An explosion rocked the City of Flin Flon Wednesday morning, sending a 33-year old man to hospital with serious injuries.
Officials say the blast happened at Stittco Energy in a mechanical shop. The blast completely destroyed the building. A worker was doing repairs to a propane truck when it happened. The mayor of Flin Flon says some sort of leak may be to blame.
"Even a 20-pound propane tank can make a hell of a blast and however and whatever was there totally levelled the building," said Mayor Cal Huntley.
Witnesses say the worker was somehow able to walk away from the blast. Despite his injuries RCMP say he was alert and conscious.
Stittco Energy says the victim was not an employee of the company but was hired to do the maintenance work. The company released this statement:
“Our thoughts are with the injured man at this time and we want to thank the efforts of the first responders who were called to assist with this incident.”
Emergency crews were able to put the fire out quickly. Several homes were left without power.
About 400 feet away from the garage, debris was thrown towards a Petro Canada gas station across the street. The owner, Dennis Bouteiller, said he was making coffee for customers when he got the shock of a lifetime.
"It was quite the haze I really wasn't sure what had happened, it almost sounded like a semi had gone right through the building basically," said Bouteiller.
The explosion was felt far beyond the gas station. The mayor and other witnesses say the ground shook and windows rattled right across Flin Flon.
"I was in my office at work actually and it shook the building and I am quite a ways a way from where that took place," said Huntley.
RCMP said the blast is not suspicious. The Office of the Fire Commissioner and Workplace Safety and Health are investigating the explosion.
