More residents and business owners are getting the chance to visit their properties in the evacuation area of the August 26 explosion in Wheatley.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent said a total of 110 properties have been visited, leaving three residents outstanding. Residents who require second visits to their properties will also be given priority.
April Rietdyk, the general manager of Community Human Services in CK, said the municipality realizes it is important for residents to have the opportunity to gather additional personal and household items.
“Residents left their homes with no warning and they have had to make do in new circumstances without even some of the basic items we take for granted in day-to-day living. We want them to have an opportunity to go in and bring out what they can within the limitations of the site,” she said in a news release.
Visits can only take place during gaps in work on the site, as crews continue an investigation into the gas leak.
Gas vapour probes will be installed this week in the parking lot behind the site of the explosion on Erie Street. Two groundwater monitoring wells will also be installed in the area.
“Protocols remain in place for the safety of those entering the site and those working there,” said CK Fire Cheif Chris Case. “The work to date to vent and control the known sources of gas have resulted in a much safer area. The work area is safer for those engaged in the investigation work and we are advised that the potential for a future release to impact beyond the evacuation zone is much reduced.”
The investigation at the site of the explosion is expected to take another eight weeks. Afterwards, the mitigation and remediation efforts will take six more weeks.
