Weekend fire at Propane Depot investigation (updated)

2:45 p.m. update: 

In an email to SooToday, Sault Fire Services spokesperson Aaron Gravelle provided some further details as to what occurred at the Propane Depot early Sunday morning.

“The fire started on the exterior of the building, on the back side,” he explains. “There was a detached structure (sea can), that received significant damage due to the fire. There was also significant damage to the exterior back part of the building.”

Gravelle notes all fire incidents are dangerous and have the potential to intensify causing further and greater dangers.

In this case, however, there was no threat to public safety.

“We treat every incident as serious and dangerous, taking all necessary precautions while handling the task at hand,” he says.

Fire crews managed to control and contain the blaze after arriving on scene.

The inside of the Propane Depot mostly received water and smoke damage, and there was no explosion during the incident.

“What was thought to be the explosion was actually pressure relief valves on propane cylinders being released,” he says. “This happens to prevent an explosion.”

Gravelle notes that PUC Services, EMS Services, Enbridge Gas, as well as Sault Police were all on-site assisting with the incident in various capacities.  

Original story (12:30 p.m.):

More details are coming to light regarding the incident that took place at the Propane Depot this past weekend.

On Sun. July 31, officers responded to a fire in the 100 block of Great Northern Road around 3 a.m.

Sault Ste. Marie Police spokesperson Lincoln Louttit says the cause of the fire has not been determined, but the incident began in an outbuilding next to the Propane Depot.  

Both the main building and outbuilding had significant damages.

Aaron Gravelle from Sault Fire Services confirmed there was no explosion at the establishment, but explains the pressure release valves on propane tanks were released.

There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire, and nobody was at the scene when officers arrived.

The fire remains under investigation.

We will update this story if more information becomes available.