durhamrcgion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ NOVEMBER 10,2004 ♦ PAGE 7 Command centre remained open through the night BY JENNIFER STOWE Staff Writer B0WMANV1LLE -- The sound of explosions rocked the cold night airTuesday, as a fire broke out at the Caledon Propane Storage Facility on Port Darlington Darlington Road in Bowmanvillc. A one-mile area to the cast and to the west of the facility were evacuated, forcing between 400 and 500 people out of their homes. The residents were not being allowed to return to their homes until at least homing. Power was expected to remain out in the area Until at least 9 or 10 a.m. today. By midnight, no injuries were reported. But 50 firefighters firefighters remained on the scene, keeping control of the blaze and trying to keep a 35,000-gallon propane tank from exploding. * Fire officials were mainly concerned about the possibility possibility of the liquid in the tank boiling, which would cause the vapour to expand vapor explosion, something something that is "always a risk when you have a storage lank with fuel," said Inspector Bill Temple of the Dur ham Regional Police Clarington Community Office. Residents as far away as Newcastle and north Bow- manvillc reported hearing exploding propane tanks as the blaze broke out just before 8 p.m. "I was at 'fim Hortons, driving down the road, and I could feel the propane tanks blowing up," said Jonathan Kimber, who stood watching the scene from Baseline Road and Liberty Street, 'The flames got bigger bigger and bigger, then there was a massive explosion. It looked like a nuclear bomb. There were propane tanks Hying through the sky." Shortly after the blaze began, the Municipality of Clarington set up an emergency command centre at the Hampton Operations Centre. From there, Mayor John Mutton, Regional Chairman Roger Anderson, and municipal staff kept tabs on the fire. The command centre was slated to stay open all night, as staff and politicians monitored the lire and made decisions on whether to declare a stale of emergency. At the command post, each member of senior municipal municipal staff was given different responsibilities. The group was in constant contact with fire department and police : We don't need things like this happening', says evacuee From page 1 » t home. I had only one candle and no flashlight but people in the building looked after each other." Shortly after 9 p.m., when a police officer knocked on her door and advised her to leave the building, Vis, McCalden grabbed her purse, put on a pair of ilippers and headed to the rec centre. "We don't need things like this happening in Bow- nanville," she said as she drank a coffee prepared >y a staff member at the rec centre. Kyle Montgomery and his wife, Alison O'Reilly, ive in an apartment building on Ontario Street South. Ms. O'Reilly, seven months pregnant, said he first explosion she heard sounded like a gunshot. gunshot. I "Our windows were rattling and the flames were coming over a house just down from us. We thought the house was on fire." Mr. Montgomery said some people in their building thought a nearby gas station pad blown tip. [ "People were outside running towards the gas station. station. The fire was really intense, and for a while all you could see was a mushroom cloud." While their home on Ontario Street South was not part of the evacuation area, the two said they drove to the rec bentre because they were nervous, t "We just wanted to be safe because of Alison. We ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 178 BOWMANVILLE POPPY TRUST FUND October 1,2003 - September 30,2004 A: Balance in Branch Poppy Trust Fund as of 1 October 2003 $31,385.19 B. Income from Campaign and All Other Sources $39,724.34 SUBTOTAL $71,109.53 C. Campaign Expenses 1) Poppies and Wreaths 2) Promotional Material 3) Other Local Expenses SUBTOTAL EXPENSES- $14,123.89 $1,342.39 $1,222.07 $17,188.35 D. Disbursements 1) Grants to Ex-service Persons ' $500.00 2) Bursaries $5,000.00 3) Donations As authorized at articles 1105-1107 General Bylaws $17,000.000 SUBTOTAL DISBURSEMENTS $22,500.00 E. TOTAL EXPENSES AND DISBURSEMENTS $39,688.35 F. BALANCE IN BRANCH POPPY TRUST FUND AS OF 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 ' $31,421.18 officials on scene, and was updated regularly, as news became available. The Durham Emergency Measures Office was also open, said Chairman Anderson. By midnight, the decision was made to set up cots at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex so those evacuated had a place to sleep. Anyone who needed medical supplies from their homes was provided a police escort to get the necessary items, says the mayor. Emergency planning came in handy during die fire, said Mayor Mutton. "I'd say this was handled exceptionally well," he said. "The fire department was on the scene quickly and was able to set up the kind of evacuation centre and command post we needed, according to plan. We're extremely fortunate that we have this kind of advanced emergency planning." By midnight, the Ministry of Environment said preliminary tests showed there was no danger in terms of airborne pollution from the fire. But the ministry remained on-scene to determine if any pollutants had entered cither the Port Darlington Harbour area or Soper Creek. By 1 a.m. Wednesday, no decision had been made on whether to declare a state of emergency. could go home but we plan to stay here a while." Tom Cauchon, who was at home with his family, said he thought the explosion was from the water filtration plant. "We could feel the vibration and I thought our windows were going to break. The flames were shooting 30 feet into the air and then I thought it was some boats at the marina exploding." Ironically, Mr. Cauchon said it was about a year ago when neighbours in the area had a meeting with Chtrington officials about concerns of a train derailment derailment because of the proximity of the propane tanks to the tracks. "Nothing ever came of that meeting but people were worried," said Mr. Cauchon, who arrived at the rec centre shortly after 10:30 p.m. with his wife Chigi, two-month-old son Ruben and five-month- old daughter Kajla. He said Ruben kept going to the windows to look at the flames. "I pulled him away because I was worried about the windows breaking." By 10:30 p.m., Audrey Andrews, co-ordinator of emergency services for Durham Region, was still on the phone making arrangements for any supplies people might need for the night. "The staff here have been great and a number of agencies such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army will be arriving with supplies." Get the PICTURE! Our photo library is packecf with great photos just waiting to be framed and mounted. If you see a photo in the Metroland Community Newspapers of Durham Region that . you wish to purchase, you can order a re-print or a digital image by calling (905) 579-4400 SWING SHIFT BAND Saturday, November 13 8:30 p.m. -12:30 a.m. Jubilee Pavilion 55 Lakeview Park, Oshawa Tickets $25 Call 905-576-7365 n 'w'w.oclso.cd THE OSHAWA DURHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS SUNDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2004 SsJ z >> / Pu • , essia iah vn.mm sacred musicsooetV MARIE JOSÉE LORD 4 (H) l- M Ait oMMUNII Y PLNÏKOSTAL CHURCH 416 TAUNTON RD, OSHAWA TICKET OUTLETS Oshewe PuilMinCollwjii Hook filon- 90S-721-.1026 long itncl McOuald Music Sinni 905-4.14-1612 Wallvis Music Centres 9t)5-5/6-?4l4 Wilson and Ley till, Musk Stole 905-725-4706 United Way Infnimatlnn Kiosk, Oshawa Cenlie Whitby I aluni, line tiiidlnij Post MaduoltirtmHIncoln lhoniasllmise of Muslr Wm! iyndn (itnmlhin Omys Whllhy School id Musk VUS -I IO .rt /4 'XIS 668 5893 tills 4W OH IS 4IIS 666-5180 VOS 666 0780 Tickets alii) availably at: tlrookllnVIlloyt.* Shoppe, lUwklli) 905-655 41/4 Uuilum School id Music, Ajax 90S 428-6266 Cathy's tioliUlosviiwiwIllü 90S 623-19.13 IhaWi-eVailanShvisl'uit IViiy 905-985-6573 C FABRICLAND CANADA'S LARGEST ^ FASHION FABRIC DISTRIBUTOR M DRAPERY & HOME DECOR Sw SAVINGS oc% AT REG. PRICE GET 2 METERS m ALL REG. PRICED IN STOCK: • DRAPERY HARDWARE • DRAPERY FABRICS fc. • HOME DECOR FABRICS • UPHOLSTERY V^IWÊÊêêu FABRICS DRAPERY trims (Off The Same Bolt) HUGE SELECTION INCLUDES: • UPHOLSTERY FABRICS • DRAPERY FABRICS • FALL FASHION FABRICS 1801 DundasSl. E. ( ;t?A TDTDir'T ACTVTI~l\ 600 Grandview St. S. Whitby (( rAnr\LLLAiyi±J j 0shawa 721-9152 V ....436-7589 LOTS OF FREE PARKING Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 12-5 p.m. 1*1.1. \M Mill IN s(»M | SI OR | s 111 Ms \1 \\ |U s< i| l> \ | \ I u\\ \ K I'KM I III \ \nl k Nl f .11 \l< ( Il UN s I UK I I'KH 1 will R | I MIS (<>MI*I Mini I'KH I N<, < >< ( I Ks I HI \l>\ I KIM 11 s \\ |N< ,s \\ 11 I Itl oil < )( K Kl (.1 I \K ( H \IN s K HU I'KH I DURHAM REGION Notice of Study Completion BIOSOLIDS MASTER PLAN & SEPTAGE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY DURHAM BIOSOUDS MASTER PLAN WORKS DEPARTMENT PUBLIC NOTICE The treatment of wastewater at water pollution control plants or by private waste disposal systems (such as septic systems) generates residual solids that are referred to as biosolids or septage. Durham Region currently manages biosolids and septage generated within Durham and York Regions. In accordance with the master planning provisions of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA), including consultation with the public and other relevant stakeholders, preferred strategies for the future management of biosolids and septage by Durham Region have been developed. The key components of the preferred biosolids and septage management strategies are outlined as follows: Biosolids Management Incineration has been identified as the preferred option for providing additional, biosolids management capacity in Durham Region. The preferred location for providing thé additional incineration capacity is the existing incineration facility at the Duffm Creek Water Pollution Control Plant (VVPCP) in south Pickering. Additional studies have recently been initiated to satisfy the requirements for implementing the additional incineration capacity. These studies are proceeding in accordance with the Schedule C provisions of the Municipal Class EA. Biosolids management in Durham Region will also continue to include beneficial application of liquid biosolids on agricultural land, when weather conditions are favourable, in order to take advantage of the existing biosolids storage facilities in the Region and utilize the nutrient value of the biosolids. The long-term biosolids management strategy does not include additional facilities to expand the land application program. Septage Management The preferred option for managing all septage in Durham Region involves the construction of new septage receiving facilities at the Duffin Creek WPCP (in Pickering), Corbett Creek WPCP (in Whitby), Port Darlington WPCP (in Bowmanville), and Lake Simcoe WPCP (in Beaverton). Under the provisions of the Municipal Class EA, these facilities are considered Schedule A projects and may proceed to implementation. Public Review Period Draft reports have been prepared to document the development of the Biosolids Master Plan and Septage Management Strategy. A 30-day public review period is to commence for these reports on Wednesday November 17, 2004. During this period, copies of the reports will be available for public review at the Durham Region Works Department, local Municipal Offices (City or Town Halls) in Durham Region, and main library branches in Durham Region. Further information on these studies, including an Executive Summary for each study report, is available on the project web site at www.reciion.duiham.on.ca/biosolids. If you have a question or comment about the study findings or reports during the 30-day public review period, we encourage you to contact: Rich Tindall, P.Eng., Project Manager Region of Durham, Works Department 105 Consumers Drive, Box 623 WHITBY ON LIN 6A3 Local telephone: (905) 668-7721 Ext. 5363 Toll free telephone: 1-800-372-1103 Fax: (905) 668-2051 E-mail: BicsolidsMasterPlan@region.durham.on.ca Comments on the Biosolids Master Plan and Septage Management Strategy should be received by Friday December 17, 2004. Durham Region Works Dep utment