A huge explosion behind a business on Archibald Street could be heard and felt by residents several blocks away on Monday morning around 9:30.
One man was seriously injured in the blast and fire officials say he went to hospital in critical condition.
Platoon Chief Dean Martin said the explosion happened in a container used as storage at the rear of Ken's Carpets in the 700 block of Archibald.
Several vehicles were also damaged but fire crews managed to knock down the resulting fire before it could do any damage to the actual building.
“They quickly extinguished the fire. The cause of fire and explosion is now under investigation by the arson strike force,” said Platoon Chief Doug Martin, before adding that unit investigates all serious fires and it doesn’t necessarily mean arson is suspected.
Workplace Safety and Health officials were also on hand Monday morning.
“A 55 year old male worker sustained serious injuries when a BBQ propane tank located behind the business exploded. The worker was transported to hospital reportedly in critical condition. A Workplace Safety and Health officer attended the scene. The incident is currently under investigation,” said Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health in a statement.
Staff at Ken’s Carpets confirmed the injured employee is warehouse manager Joe St Laurent.
The company issued a statement Monday afternoon.
“We are shocked by the unexpected accident that took place today in our back parking lot. At this time we are most concerned about our employee who was injured in the accident and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time. We are awaiting further information from the Fire Department," said Ken's Carpets in its statement.
Archibald Street was temporarily closed but re-opened to traffic shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Monday.
David Jeanson works in a building on Marion Street, about six blocks from where the explosion happened.
“We were all in the office having a meeting and then all of a sudden we felt our building shake,” said Jeanson. “So I went outside and didn’t see anything so I went up on the roof and saw all the black smoke.”
Edith Chartier heard the blast from her house on the other side of the Seine River, about four blocks from the carpet shop.
“We heard a loud bang and I thought it was thunder,” she said. “And then we called someone and they said it was an explosion.”
"At this stage of the investigation, it appears that the victim was inside a storage container at the time of the incident. The investigation is on-going regarding the nature of the ignition source which caused the explosion to occur," said police on Tuesday.
Officers said damage is estimated at $200,000.
