Toronto Propane Fire

The following story was taken from the Canadian Occupational Safety magazine (link below)

http://www.cos-mag.com/index.php/Digital-Editions.html.

As most of you may be aware Jeannie and I are heavily involved in the Canadian Red Cross and the article below is regarding comments made by John Saunders our Provincial Director, Disaster Management & International Response, about Toronto Fire and their exceptional response to the recent propane explosion in the city. It goes to prove that quality training is a very important part of the problem solving practice.

Some experts say the timing has made a huge difference. The first explosion happened around 4 A.M on a Sunday morning when most people are still asleep in their bedrooms.

“It was sheer stroke of luck”, says John Saunders, provincial director of the disaster management program at Canadian Red Cross. “There was nobody on the street, otherwise that could have been devastating.”

Saunders says the quick response by Toronto Fire Services was a huge factor in the containment of the fire and prevention of what could have resulted in more serious, even fatal, injuries.

“This type of incident could have very easily escalated with more multiple explosions had they not acted quickly on the scene. The professionalism that I saw from Toronto Fire is bar none.” says Saunders, whose team has been working with other organizations to provide shelter and clean up assistance to area residents affected by the blast.