The investigation is on-going and the cause is unknown after an explosion rocked a building on Queen Street in Chatham.
Fire investigators from the Office of the Fire Marshal are currently working with the Chatham-Kent Police Service and Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services to determine the cause of the explosion and blaze, which broke out at around 9:12 p.m. on Friday.
“Police and fire dispatchers received numerous calls to an explosion and fire on Queen Street,” said Chris Case, assistant fire chief, in a press release.
“Teams from Stations 1 and 2 in Chatham were dispatched and arrived on scene within four minutes to find a fully involved apartment and commercial premises with flames showing from the roof and a number of people requiring rescue.”
Case said the firefighters simultaneously began rescuing the victims and extinguishing the fire.
“A number of occupants were brought to safety, one of which had serious injuries and was conveyed to hospital by Chatham-Kent EMS teams,” he said.
“Assistance was requested and additional teams responded from Chatham and Raleigh North, with 20 firefighters and a Chief officer on scene. Despite the ferocious nature of the fire crews were able to stop the fire spreading to adjoining units and homes and with the assistance of hydro and gas engineers, bring the fire under control, finally declaring it extinguished around 1:30 a.m. (on Saturday morning.)”
Case said the investigation could take a number of days to complete “due to the complex nature of the incident.”
A damage estimate if still to be determined.
– Photo credit: Tami Schram
