Fire at Alberta oilsands under control, one sent to hospital
theweathernetwork.com
Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 8:09 AM - A fire that occurred at an oilsands upgrader northwest of Fort McMurray is under control after the company shut down on Tuesday following an explosion.
Canadian crude oil producer Syncrude closed its operations at Mildred Lake, Alta., before one person was taken to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
"Syncrude is providing support and resources to the employee's family during this difficult time," a company statement reads.
"All non-essential employees and contractors have been removed from the immediate area to allow response crews to manage the situation. The appropriate regulators have been notified."
The oil producer posted on Twitter Tuesday night that the fire had been isolated and controlled.
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The fire has been isolated/controlled. All Syncrude personnel & contractors are to report for their night shift as per usual. #ymm
— Syncrude Canada Ltd. (@SyncrudeCanada) March 15, 2017
Investigators from the Alberta Energy Regulator were on scene, as well as Wood Buffalo RCMP.
The cause of the explosion has yet to be determined.
According to Syncrude spokesperson Will Gibson, the fire started just before 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday. By 4 p.m., most of the smoke had dissipated, Gibson told CBC.
"From my vantage point on site, everything appears normal," he told the news agency. "There's nothing amiss. But I'm not in position or vantage point to say the fire is contained or extinguished."
One southbound lane on Highway 63 was shut down as a result of the fire.
Mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Melissa Blake told CBC that the incident brought back memories from Fort McMurray's devastating wildfire that destroyed more than 2,000 structures and forced nearly 90,000 people to flee to safety in May 2016.
"On the outside, looking at social media, the videos that are being posted, people immediately think [about] who they know that's there," Blake told the news agency. "And I think the anxiety comes form just not knowing what all the answers are at this point."
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone at, or near Syncrude today. Stay forever #YMMStrong. Again, stay Safe. Resilient. Together.
— Melissa Blake (@MayorMelissa) March 14, 2017
A smoke advisory was issued for residents in the Fort McKay region as a precaution.
The Weather Network meteorologist Kelly Sonnenburg says that the region was dominated by clear skies and low winds on Tuesday -- ideal conditions to prevent the fire from blowing or spreading.
WATCH BELOW: Prime Minister Trudeau answers to a heated Calgary crowd about the future of Canadian oilsands.
