BOWMANVILLE -- Steffi Nathan isn't likely to forget Nov. 9, 2004.
That's the night Caledon Propane, just down the street from her Port Darlington Road condo, exploded. She can't help comparing what she lived through to the explosion last weekend in north Toronto.
"I can still remember walking out on the balcony and feeling the blast of heat hitting my face," she said, just days after another larger propane explosion rocked a Toronto neighbourhood. "We're 600 metres away (from Caledon) and the Downsview one, they were even closer."
In the wake of the Toronto explosion, Clarington Mayor Jim Abernethy is seeking more information on the whereabouts of local propane facilities.
"What I did was I asked our staff to identify all the propane storage facilities and retail outlets and establish which regulatory bodies they report to," he said. "It's important that we know there are regulations in place and that they are meeting those regulations."
After the 2004 Bowmanville blast, Caledon, which pleaded guilty to one count of improper fuel handling, was required to pay a $30,000 fine to the Technical Standards Safety Authority. While the ignition source was never positively determined, TSSA said the charge to which Caledon pleaded guilty involved the discharge of propane directly into the atmosphere instead of into another tank.
But despite Caledon's history, Clarington's mayor said it's important to ensure all propane facilities are operating properly.
"We're not going to isolate anybody," he said. "We want to know that they're all OK."
After the Bowmanville blast, Caledon spokesman John Mara said the company had worked hard to ensure the facility was very safe. In fact, he said, it is, "now an example of how yards should be. The safety procedures and precautions are being used as examples for the industry," he said in 2005.
While Toronto Mayor David Miller said consideration may have to be given to zoning changes -- like those considered by Clarington shortly after the Caledon Propane explosion -- Mayor Abernethy said it might be best to wait until the investigation into the Toronto explosion is complete before making any rash moves.
"There are a lot of questions out there right now and there may be some changes in the industry," as a result of the Toronto explosion, he said. If there were changes, "whatever facilities there are here would have to fall in line."
As always, he said, "the safety of our citizens is priority No. 1."
Since the 2004 explosion, "Emergency Services has worked with Caledon and the TSSA on an ongoing basis to ensure the (Bowmanville Caledon) facility is operated to the standards determined by the TSSA."
The fire department has done additional "propane training and familiarized ourselves with the (Caledon) plant," Fire Chief Gord Weir said.
Ms. Nathan still worries a bit about the proximity of a propane facility to her home.
"I know they take more care but it's still there," she said.
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