Massive warehouse fire in Blackfalds
Posted Jul 2, 2011 2:25 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Canada Day celebrations were halted in the town of Blackfalds, north of Red Deer Friday night due to a massive warehouse fire.
Crews from surrounding towns were called in to help battle the flames forcing dozens of people out of their homes and forcing the evacuation of a nearby campground.
The trucking depot provides storage for drilling mud, a risky industrial chemical used by oil and gas companies to help drill holes.
The massive blaze forced thick black smoke high into the air and set off multiple loud explosions inside the Formula Powell site.
Alberta Environment tested the air in the area late Friday night and found there was no risk to human health.
Water used to fight the blaze was removed separately to prevent dangerous chemicals ending up in the waste water system.
The burning warehouse eventually collapsed and no injuries were reported.
