A fire reported at the Co-op cardlock gas station at Timber Lane near Flin Flon has been extinguished.
The fire was first reported to authorities shortly after noon May 22. A thick, black plume of smoke was visible from the scene from as far away as Creighton. Firefighters were told of a possible explosion at the scene in the initial call for service.
The incident began when a fuel truck at the station caught fire. One person, the truck's driver, is reported to have suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital. The driver was outside the vehicle when the fire started. No other injuries were reported.
Firefighters from Flin Flon and Hudbay fire departments responded to the scene along with RCMP members from both Flin Flon and Creighton detachments. Officers set up roadblocks at the intersections of the Perimeter highway and Balsam Avenue, Queen Street and Timber Lane. Emergency medical personnel and ambulances were also on scene.
"The department did an amazing job, with help from Hudbay who came and helped us out with their fire department," said Flin Flon Fire Chief Jason Kuras. Over 30 firefighters and three trucks responded to the blaze.
"We got a lot of help."
Fire personnel cut down the smoke cloud soon after arrival, with black smoke no longer visible at the scene as of around 12:50 p.m. The fire was extinguished later in the afternoon, with firefighters remaining on scene until around 5 p.m.
Four large fuel tanks were located near the source of the fire's ignition. The flames got close - within 10 metres of the tanks - but did not come in contact with either the tanks or their contents, thanks to the efforts of emergency personnel. Businesses along Timber Lane within a kilometre of the fire site were evacuated while crews fought the fire.
"I fully thought it could have been a lot worse than it was, especially considering where it was," said Kuras, referring to the tanks near the site of the fire.
