Report targets hazardous materials sites in Winnipeg

The City of Winnipeg is taking steps toprevent another explosion like the one that rocked St. Bonifacein 2012.

The fire at Speedway International at the St. Boniface Industrial park sent fireballs intoin the skyand caused the evacuation of several blocks.Speedway manufactured and storedbiodiesel.

A report presented to theprotectionand community servicescommittee onMonday recommends the city hire a new fire prevention officer and adopt a more rigid inspection schedule athazardous materials sites.

It suggests the following schedule:

• High hazard (F1) occupanciesget annual inspections.
• Medium hazard (F2) occupancies get inspections every three years.
• Low hazard (F3) occupancies get inspections every five years.

Currently, hazardous occupancy sites not required to be inspected under the Office of the Fire Commissioner's mandated inspection schedule, are inspected through a complaint process or if fire crews observe potential issues during response to a property.

A property owner may also request an inspection based on their own concerns.

Janet Bier, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service's director of fire prevention, says business owners will be given several months' notice prior to an inspection,but the fire department will also act on tips from the public.

"Often we'll receive complaints from employees in these types of businesses if they feel that their safety is, you know, jeopardized by something going on in these buildings," Bier told CBC News on Monday.

In October 2012, the massive explosion at Speedway International, located inthe city's St.Boniface area, sent a fireball high into the sky.

• Stop work notice in place at Speedway International
• Winnipeg fuel plant concerns remain, 1 year after fire
• Winnipeg fuel plant fire causes $15M damage

The blaze caused $15 million damage and once it had been extinguished, the site of the plantlooked as if a bomb had exploded. The intense heat had melted much of the structure.

Even though Speedwaystored fuel, ithad no permits and had not been inspected.

Another recommendationin Monday's report calls foraninspection fee of $150per hourfor high-hazard sites.

It also recommends the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and the citys planning, property and development department better collaborate to identify hazardous sites using occupancy permits.

There are approximately 300 locations across Winnipeg that the fire serviceknows contain flammable or explosive material.

City council must yet consider and vote onthe report and its recommendations.

The cause of the Speedway fire was found to be accidental.

The companyfaces numerous chargesunder City of Winnipeg bylawsrelated to the storage of flammable liquids and building occupancy infractions.

A provincial report on what happened in the Speedway fire is still being written.