Fuel Plant Fire
One year ago on Oct. 1, 2012, a massive St. Boniface blaze sent fireballs into the sky and forced the evacuation of entire neighbourhoods at Speedway International Inc., which manufactures racing fuel. It took fire crews several hours to bring the blaze under control, and residents could not return to their homes until the following day.
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.