Blaze started in coker unit
Emergency responders sprang into action Friday after fire broke out at Imperial Oil's Sarnia refinery.
The blaze in the coker unit was small and quickly contained, but
the unit had to be shut down, sending massive clouds of grey and white
smoke into the air over south Sarnia.
The incident, which began at 3:15 p. m., triggered a series of escalating emergency warnings.
The main gate was closed and a request for full traffic control
issued. That was later upgraded, bringing municipal fire and ambulance
personnel to the Vidal Street plant.
No injuries were reported, but prevailing winds carried acrid
emissions roiling from plant smoke stacks in a southwesterly direction.
"What we're seeing is carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and steam," plant spokesperson Julie Ferguson said during the incident.
"We're taking air monitor samples to ensure levels don't get elevated."
Ada Lockridge, a member of the Aamjiwnaang environment
committee, said she was leaving an environmental meeting on the reserve
when she noticed the clouds of smoke.
"You can see the yellow crap in the sky," she said. "It's coming right at Aamjiwnaang."
The environmental incident was the second this week for Imperial
Oil. On Tuesday, sirens were activated following a chemical leak in the
refinery's sour water stripper unit.
The all-clear to Friday's incident was sounded at 6:17 p. m.,
but increased flaring from the refinery's stacks is expected to
continue until the unit can be returned to production.
