FORT FRANCES—Several west-end schools and businesses were closed, and about 150 residents evacuated, after an explosion at J.W. Walker School here shortly before 1 a.m. on Thursday.
No injuries were reported, but the local Municipal Control Group (MCG) reported at 10:45 a.m. that “there’s extensive damage” to the school as the west side of the gymnasium blew out in the explosion.
There’s also “significant water damage.”
“We really can’t tell you the full extent until the fire marshal comes in,” said MCG spokesperson Kathy Lawson, adding Rolf Waffler, an investigator from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office, was en route from Thunder Bay and expected to arrive shortly after noon Thursday.
“People aren’t able to return [to the area] until the fire marshal makes that determination,” she added.
“We have had a number of people calling to find out whether they can go back, but we are absolutely keeping them from area until the fire marshal’s determined that it’s safe,” Lawson stressed.
Depending on what the fire marshal determines, residents and those working at the affected business could return to the area later Thursday.
Meanwhile, Fort Frances High School, Confederation College, St. Francis School, and the Northwest Catholic District School Board’s office are closed until further notice.
Meanwhile, the cause of the early-morning explosion and subsequent fire remained under investigation as of press time.
Police were contacted at 10:58 p.m. on Wednesday by Union Gas to conduct traffic control at the Keating Avenue and King’s Highway area due to a suspected gas odour.
Then at 12:44 a.m., there was an explosion at J.W. Walker that resulted in the fire.
The Fort Frances Fire Department responded to battle the blaze while OPP officers evacuated The Adventure Inn, the Super 8 Motel, and the Westfort Apartments, as well as all residents within the immediate area.
Keating Avenue resident Lyndon Hughes said he was woken up by the explosion, shortly after which police were at his door, explaining the emergency and asking Hughes and his family to leave.
“We just woke the kids up and dressed them and headed out, and brought our two dogs,” he noted. “It was quite a carload.”
Hughes noted the evacuation of the neighobourhood seemed quick and orderly. While the evacuees could go to the Memorial Sports Centre auditorium, Hughes and his family spent the rest of the night at his church (New Beginnings Fellowship).
Hughes said he only got a brief look at the burning school.
“All I could see from my vantage point was flames coming out of the roof of Walker School,” he recalled. “It looked like the fire was where the new portion is connected to the old portion, right in the middle of the roof there.
“They had their big tower-squirter truck there pouring water on it.”
While the arena auditorium was available, and town staff were on site to help take care of anyone who came there for help, the town reported most evacuees apparently stayed with friends, family, or at other local motels.
The area around the site remained cordoned off late this morning as Union Gas worked to turn off the natural gas supply to the area.
“A controlled release of gas continues in order to give us time to assess the safest way to respond to the situation while allowing our customers to use natural gas,” Union Gas said in a press release issued shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday.
All morning long, Fort Frances OPP officers conducted traffic control in the area of J.W. Walker School. Traffic entering Fort Frances from the west was diverted northbound onto McIrvine Avenue, then following Fifth Street to Portage Avenue.
Traffic entering Fort Frances from the east was diverted north on Portage to Fifth Street and then south on McIrvine Avenue.
Businesses in the area, including The Adventure Inn, Super 8 Motel, Energy Fitness, and Selective Services, will not be open until police and fire have concluded their investigations.
All other businesses are open.
(Fort Frances Daily Bulletin)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
