March 4, 2013

Gas leak causes Spruce Grove explosion

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) officers are investigating the cause of an explosion that rocked a duplex under construction in Spruce Grove last week.

“It is still under investigation...” said Stewart McAndrews, president of Dolce Vita Homes.

“It was a gas explosion, but we don’t know what the cause is. It was very unfortunate, but we are glad no one was injured.”

According to Alberta OH&S spokesperson Lisa Glover at about 9 p.m. on Feb. 23, two workers were at the site when it exploded.

“There were no injuries,” she said. “The fire department has control of the scene and OH&S officers are on site undertaking an investigation.”

The incident occurred on Greenbury Crescent.

“Two male sub-contractors had been tiling in the kitchen throughout the day and indicated they had smelled a gas like substance in the home,” said Cpl. Colette Zazulak of the Spruce Grove/Stoney Plain RCMP.

“These males were still present and working in the home, when the basement exploded. They were able to escape the residence unharmed.”

Police arrived moments later and evacuated the area within a one-block radius for fear of a potential gas leak.

All residents were later allowed to return to their homes.

RCMP said the explosion and subsequent fire remain under investigation, but does not appear to be suspicious in nature.

The fire department said the duplex is totally destroyed, but the cost of the damage has not been determined.

The explosion in Spruce Grove happened two days after an explosion at a house under construction in Fort Saskatchewan that killed one worker and seriously injured two others.

In this incident, 33-year-old Jason Michalycia died and his cousins, brothers Wilfred and Wes Michalycia suffered serious injuries.

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