Early morning explosion at Regina’s Co-op Refinery rocks homes, rattles nerves
Residents of Regina’s north end were jolted awake early this morning by a powerful explosion at the Consumers’ Co-operative Refinery main plant. The blast, which occurred around 4:45 a.m. CST near gate No. 3 on Ninth Avenue North near McDonald Street, could be felt as far as two kilometers away, shaking homes in the vicinity.
Emergency alarm horns blared for more than 15 minutes, alerting the community to the incident. Alexa Denis, a resident of the Churchill Downs neighborhood located just west of the refinery, described being awoken by the explosion. She noted that living close to the refinery and a major railroad meant loud noises were not uncommon, but the magnitude of this explosion was particularly concerning.
While the cause of the blast is still unknown, a fire was reported to be burning as of 6 a.m. CST. Fortunately, all refinery personnel were safely evacuated, and only two employees sustained minor injuries, according to a spokesperson for the refinery. The affected area has been contained, and investigations by the Regina Fire Department and Occupational Health and Safety are underway to determine the cause of the explosion.
This is not the first incident of its kind at the Regina refinery. In 2011, a similar explosion and fire resulted in 52 injuries, prompting Consumers’ Co-operative Refineries Ltd. to plead guilty to safety violations. The company was fined $280,000 for failing to ensure adequate supervision of work activities, as per the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The Regina Fire Department responded swiftly to Tuesday’s explosion, assisting the refinery’s firefighting team. Thankfully, no structures were involved in the incident, and no high-pressure lines were compromised. Crews worked to burn off excess product in the lines to prevent further escalation of the situation.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this explosion, concerns about safety and regulatory compliance at the refinery have been reignited. Residents are hopeful for a thorough investigation and appropriate measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
