A number of Etobicoke businesses were evacuated after a fire broke out outside an equipment rental business on Tuesday afternoon, which engulfed dozens of propane tanks.
The three-alarm fire was first reported around 3:40 p.m. at a business near Racine Road and Brydon Drive, which is in the vicinity of Kipling Avenue and Rexdale Boulevard.
Fire chief Matthew Pegg says upon arrival the crews encountered “a strong fire affecting a series of propane and compressed gas cylinders outside the building” and immediately took a defensive stance.
He said the fire eventually spread to several parked vehicles, but that teams were able to control it before it spread to the building itself.
“These are very complicated, complex and dangerous fires for our crews, as they must be close enough to deploy ground monitors (unmanned monitors to flow water) and aerial towers, the main purpose of maintaining these cylinders. fresh, ”he said. “I’m glad to say the fire is under control now and there are no injuries.”
Pegg said he was told some of the propane tanks outside the business weighed up to 100 pounds.
There were reports of the sound of explosions when the fire broke out, although teams have not yet determined whether any of the propane tanks actually exploded.
“It is very difficult to discern when the incident is live whether it is an explosion or the relief of a pressure relief valve. Any flammable or compressed gas cylinder is equipped with a pressure relief valve. “In the event of a heat impact, this pressure relief valve will release. It will release gas, there will be an ignition of that gas, but it is designed to prevent the cylinder from actually exploding,” he said. Pegg.
“So it’s very possible that there was initially gas ventilation, there would have been a series of sounds that sounded like an explosion and part of our responsibility once we have the fire completely out will be to do the source and do some scientific research. determine whether or not there was an explosion, but it is too early to confirm. “
There were about 30 different vehicles and 100 firefighters at the scene, but Pegg said the response has slowed.
He said it was a “very challenging incident” that had the potential to be very significant, “if not for the actions of Toronto firefighters.
“It was absolutely well managed and they controlled it very quickly,” he said.
Racine Road remains closed between Martin Grove Road and Kipling Avenue as a result of the fire.