Some gasoline stations in Ontario are experiencing shortages as Imperial Oil struggles to meet demand after a recent refinery fire.

"There are some service stations that will, from time to time, be without product for a few hours in the next 10 days," Imperial Oil spokesman Robert Theberge said Tuesday.

Theberge emphasized there is no reason for consumers to worry or panic since the shortages will be short-lived.

A spokesman said shortages could affect stations throughout the province, though there have only been reports so far from southwestern Ontario.

An Esso station on Toronto's Avenue Road north of Lawrence posted a sign saying they were out of fuel, one witness told CBC News. Imperial Oil operates Esso stations.

Some stations in the London area were also forced to temporarily shut down their pumps this week.

Other causes include CN Rail strike

On Feb. 15, there was a fire in a crude processing unit of the company's refinery in Nanticoke, Ont.

Theberge said the refinery fire is just one of several reasons for the fuel supply shortage.

"It's the straw that broke the camel's back," he said.

The refinery, which usually produces about 118,000 barrels of fuel a day, has been processing crude oil, but not at normal capacity, he said.

Other problems include a tight market supply caused by demand for ethanol, recent cold weather making it difficult for ships to transport fuel to Canada from the U.S. and a December fire at the company's Sarnia, Ont., refinery.

The CN Rail strike has also had an impact on the supply, keeping Imperial Oil trucks too busy to transport fuel to Southwestern Ontario.

With files from the Canadian Press