The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has officially ended the order declaring a state of emergency in Wheatley, Municipal officials announced on Thursday.
The Termination of a Declared Emergency document was signed by Mayor Darrin Canniff at 12:45 p.m. on October 31, 2024, Municipal officials say.
Officials have determined that due to the findings of the latest investigation into the presence of gas within Wheatley, the emergency order is no longer needed for the protection of persons and property from serious harm.
The emergency was initially declared on Monday, July 19, 2021, due to the detection of hydrogen sulfide and methane gas.
On August 26, 2021, an explosion occurred on Erie St. South, destroying two buildings and damaging many others in the area.
Significant evacuations took place, displacing many Wheatley residents.
Between April 12 and December 7, 2022, the evacuation zone was gradually reduced over time.
In early 2024, Council approved the acquisition of buildings affected by the explosion, allowing for demolition to begin.
During the demolition phase, a total of 15 buildings were demolished, allowing municipal officials and external contractors to begin an investigation into the source of the gas emissions.
During the final investigation phase, an abandoned petroleum well was discovered at 17 Talbot St. East and plugged.
Since then, no gas signatures have been detected on the monitoring well or the other water wells abandoned on the site previously, suggesting that the issue may have been resolved.
This discovery and ongoing testing of the monitoring well will provide further understanding and confirm if the efforts have been successful in stopping the gas migration in Downtown Wheatley, Municipal officials added.
“The joint teams of the Municipality and its partners have worked tirelessly to discover the source of the risk and to protect and remediate the impacts to the community,” said Chief of Fire & Rescue Services Chris Case, in a press release.
“Over the past 41 months we have been humbled by the resilience of the community, their proactive approach and their support for one another and those engaged in operations. I am duty bound to express my appreciation and gratitude to the firefighters who have maintained a vigilant and compassionate watch for the community as these works have progressed.”
“This is major step in the revitalization of Wheatley; this is where the rubber meets the road in planning for Wheatley’s future,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff, in a media release.
“The people of Wheatley have been nothing short of incredible in the face of the adversity that this emergency has caused. I would like to thank the many staff and volunteers who have gotten us here today. I would also like to thank the Province, as without their support, we would not have been able to accomplish nearly as much as we have. I am optimistic about the future of Wheatley, and I know it will be guided by passionate, loyal, and resilient residents that truly care about their hometown.”
“This is a historic day for Wheatley. We can continue to move forward knowing Wheatley’s future will be a bright one for generations to come,” said Ward 1 Councillor Lauren Anderson, in a press release.
“I cannot thank the ‘boots on the ground’ team enough for their efforts to get us here. Special thanks to Chief Case, Ryan Brown, MPP Jones and Gradyn Smith, and Theresa Watson for your continued efforts and support.”
