Heavy equipment has been brought in to downtown Wheatley as the investigation into last week’s explosion continues.
Officials with the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry as well as the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office and experts from the private sector are working together on a technical advisory group.
Fire Chief Chris Case says right now, there are no gas readings at the site, which has allowed the excavation to begin.
”The office of the Fire Marshal in conjunction with the technical experts and fire services are currently removing layer upon layer of the debris field to try to ascertain the origin and cause of the explosion,” Case explains. “So once we get down to the ground level, to the basement level, that’s when there will be another review, and that’s when we’ll start removing rubble from the basement.”
Water is continually being sprayed on the rubble to keep down the dust and dissipate any gas that might still be coming through the ground.
Municipal CAO Don Shropshire says there are still several possible sources, including an abandoned gas well or natural gas bubbling through the mantle of the earth.
“We have been working with the office of the Fire Marshal, they are charged any time there’s an event like this to come in and look at the origin and source of the explosion. They are currently on site and doing an investigation, gradually moving through the rubble pile and trying to find identify any clues that would lead to the results of their investigation.”
In all, 20 people were treated for injuries the day of the blast, seven of whom were initially sent to hospital.
There is still one person left in hospital in stable condition, being treated for non-life threating injuries.
Over 100 people have received support following the evacuation and explosion on August 26th. 27 people from 10 households are still in emergency housing, while other affected residents have found their own temporary accommodations. However, at this point municipal officials say there is no way to tell how long it will be before residents are allowed back into their properties.
Support services continue to be available for displaced residents at the Wheatley Arena.
Victim Services will be on hand at the Tilbury Public Library Thursday and Friday for those dealing with emotional and mental health trauma as a result of the explosion.
Mayor Darrin Canniff says this has been a true community effort rallying around the people of Wheatley.
“There are literally hundreds of people behind the scenes,” Canniff says. “You see the fire fighters and police and various things on scene, but you don’t see all the other people that are working very hard. Like for example housing, mental health. The community as a whole has stepped up above and beyond expectations.”
As well, municipal officials are working on putting together some kind of town hall meeting to keep residents in the loop. Updated information is also being posted on the municipality’s website.