Because it was a workplace accident Occupational Health and Safety will be taking over the investigation, said Cpl. Gina Slaney
An oil well fire in Rocky View County sent five people to hospital Monday afternoon and crews are still fighting the blaze, says an RCMP spokesperson.
Around 2:15 p.m. on Monday, Cochrane RCMP and emergency services responded to reports of an explosion on a lease site off Range Road 40 north of Big Hill Springs Road, according to Cpl. Gina Slaney.
Five people were injured in the explosion, two more critical than the others. They were all taken to Calgary hospitals, Slaney said.
Because it was a workplace accident she said Occupational Health and Safety will be taking over the investigation.
“I did read that they said it could take days until the fire is extinguished,” Slaney said.
Keith, a resident who lives about 700 metres away from the site, described what he saw Monday afternoon: “It was a big mushroom cloud, solid black, like, you know, not ‘dark-ish’; solid black.”
Although Keith couldn’t see the flames, he said a neighbour saw them from their house.
By later Monday evening he could still see smoke out his window.
“There’s been tons of water trucks coming up and down the road. I’d say half a dozen fire trucks, minimum, and probably (more than) half a dozen ambulances,” Keith said.
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) said in an emailed statement that its top priority during an incident is to ensure that companies take swift and effective action to protect public safety and the environment.
“We are currently monitoring HWN Energy’s response to a release of sweet gas and a fire approximately eight kilometres north of Cochrane,” said AER.
The regulator said roadblocks have been established to safeguard the public and accommodate emergency operations, while staff are on-site assessing the situation.
“We will maintain a presence on-site and continue ongoing communication with HWN to ensure that public safety and environmental protection are upheld, and that all regulatory requirements are met,” it said.
Postmedia has contacted HWN Energy for comment.