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Fuel Plant Fire
Speedway International is located just of Archibald Street in St. Boniface. It employs eight people.
Business produces "Pro Comp Racing Methanol" made up of a number of chemicals including: formaldehyde, methyl esters, amines, methyl and methylene chlorides and various chemical imtermediates. "Used in non-permanent anti-freeze; as a fuel, solvent, extractant, and denaturant."
Minute by Minute
- 5:20 p.m.
- Fire reported in St Boniface Industrial Park
- 5:48 p.m.
- Fire fighters on the scene but are pulled back as flames begin to billow outward. They set up a buffer zone of 2400 feet around the facility.
- 6:15 p.m.
- Police begin to evacuate surrounding neighbourhood. Residents move to nearby hotels. They close off numerous roads in the area.
- 6:30 p.m.
- Tanker truck with 75,000 litres of methanal explodes sending massive fireball 800 metres into the air.
- 7:00 p.m.
- More loud booms are explosions continue.
- 7:30 p.m.
- Fire fighters fear fuel stored in two rail tank cars may explode. Begin to douse them.
- 9:00 p.m.
- Foam equipped fire truck brought in from Winnipeg International Airport. Begins pour foam onto blaze
- 12:30 a.m.
- Fire under control. Residents allowed to return home.