Explosions ripped through the Sunrise Propane Industrial Gases facility last August, lighting up the sky in northwest Toronto between Highway 401 and Downsview Park. (Submitted by Andrew Erlich)

Ontario's Ministry of Labour has laid two charges against a Toronto company after a series of pre-dawn explosions last summer hurled flames high into the sky.—

Parminder Singh Saini, 25, died at the scene when the Sunrise Propane facility in Downsview exploded last Aug. 10. Toronto firefighter Bob Leek, 55, suffered a heart attack and also died at the scene.

The explosions and fire forced thousands of people from their northwest Toronto homes.

Last week, the ministry filed two charges against the company under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, saying the company had failed to provide information or instruction on "appropriate emergency responses to propane leaks."

According to ministry documents Sunrise Propane Energy Group Inc. is charged with "failing to provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker and failing to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker."

The company also faces a charge of failing to ensure its facility was operated in accordance with regulatory requirements and safe industry practices.

If convicted, Sunrise could be fined a maximum of $500,000 on each charge.

Matt Baljer, a spokesman for the ministry, told CBC News on Wednesday that there is a statute of limitations and charges needed to be filed within a year.

"The first appearance is scheduled to be heard at the Ontario court of justice in Toronto on Sept. 3," he said.

The company has not responded to the charges.