Municipal officials say people are being allowed back into their homes in a section of Wheatley this morning in the wake of a Thursday afternoon gas leak.
According to a Chatham-Kent press release, “The gas emission discovered in Wheatley has now stopped and T. L. Watson and Associates, Chatham-Kent’s oil and gas expert who oversaw previous Wheatley incidents, has confirmed there are no imminent risks to public safety. Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue Services (CKFR) also conducted gas checks in homes closest to the incident site and no gas was detected.”
All roads in the community are open again, and Entegrus has turned the power back on to the impacted buildings along a section of Foster Street where the hydrogen sulfide was detected.
The Wheatley library branch will remain closed until further notice, officials said, while the investigation continues.
CKFR personnel are still present and they are conducting air monitoring every 30 minutes.
“This was a terrible incident for everyone still affected by the 2021 event,” said Chatham-Kent Fire Chief Chris Case in a media release. “However, we quickly assembled all agencies and the experts we have relied on over the past years and were able to determine the community could return to their homes. We appreciate the support and understanding from everyone involved.”
Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff empathized with local residents.
“I am extremely thankful that this situation was quickly resolved through rapid response and teamwork from multiple agencies and co-operation from Wheatley residents,” he said. “The people of Wheatley have been through so much over the last few years, and this incident is a firm reminder of the importance of vigilance and monitoring in the community.”
The latest scare began about 1:45 p.m. Thursday when CKFR crews responded to reports of an odour behind 35 Talbot St. W. It was found that hydrogen sulfide gas was emanating from a small area near the back of the property.
Once the gas was discovered, an immediate evacuation of the area took place and Windsor Fire Rescue’s HAZ MAT team was called in to assist.
As a precaution, the Wheatley Arena was opened as a temporary evacuation centre.
An August 2021 leak of hydrogen sulfide gas resulted in a massive explosion that destroyed several buildings in the community’s core.
