Forensic and structural engineers are investigating the cause of an asphalt plant fire in northwest Calgary, as the process of rebuilding the facility begins.
Forensic and structural engineers are investigating the cause of an asphalt plant fire in northwest Calgary, as the process of rebuilding the facility begins.
“Workers were starting to send gravel into a mixing drum and for some reason the gravel didn’t go in, but the oil did,” said Alberta Occupational Health and Safety spokesperson Chris Chodan.
“The oil leaked out and set the plant on fire.”
At about 8 am. on July 25, the Calgary Fire Department responded to a fire at the Volker Stevin asphalt plant at 144th Ave and 69th street in northwest Calgary.
Upon arrival fire crews were faced with heavy fire at the base of three oil tanks.
Initially, the fire crews were concerned about the possibility of an explosion.
They pulled back to a safe distance and established a perimeter line around the plant, which allowed the fire to burn while they sized up the situation.
Fire crews needed about two hours to bring the fire under control because they were afraid the structures might collapse.
There were 30 firefighters and 12 pieces of fire apparatus on scene.
There were no injuries and an investigator was sent to the plant by the manufacturer, Aztec, on the same day as the fire.
“”We actually have a forensic engineer, a cause analysis person and a few other folks have been brought in by the insurer to investigate the fire,” said Dennis Locking, manager corporate services with Volker Stevin Contracting Ltd.
“Everything I say now is speculative and there is no report as yet, but it appears it was a malfunction of the plant. Oil went where it shouldn’t have and the computer didn’t tell us.”
Locking said the blaze caused about $2.5 million to $3 million dollars in damage to the asphalt plant.
“We will be replacing half the plant and the manufacturer is already building the new parts,” he said.
“The demolition work started on July 28 and once we get the parts here the reconstruction of the plant will begin.”
The new plant will be built and is scheduled to be in operation by Oct 1.
The three investigators sent by Aztec to investigate the fire are also trying to determine if this is an inherent issue that affects other people in the asphalt industry.
“If something needs to be changed on these types of plants, people need to know about it,” said Locking.
Volker Stevin has another plant in Calgary that will be running at full capacity until the new plant is opened.
“The impact on our clients will be minimal,” said Locking.
“But there will be an increase in transportation costs, because we will need more trucks to haul loads over a longer distance.”
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