A propane fire has caused extensive damage to equipment at Woodrill Farms near Marsville along Dufferin County Road 3.
On July 22, Erin Fire Chief Dan Callaghan reported on the fire earlier in that day.
Callaghan said that at 3:30pm, Woodrill Farms on Dufferin Road 3 reported a propane fire at their large propane tanks.
He explained that Woodrill is a large company which does seed cleaning for many farmers in the area as well as drying grains.
Callaghan said Car 101 arrived first on the scene and found a small fire on the over-pressurization pipe which leads from the evaporators.
He explained the propane comes from the large tanks and goes to a set of heaters which change the propane from a liquid to gas and is then sent off to the dryers.
Callaghan said a worker was on site and attempting to alter the pressure when the over-pressurization occurred and vented out.
With propane being heavier than air, it settled and encountered a small flame from a pilot light which ignited a 15-foot flame from the vent pipe.
Firefighters were on the scene for about a half hour, Callaghan said. He explained that Car 101 extinguished the remainder of the fire after the grain drying technician had shut the propane off to the unit.
The crews cooled the units down and the TSSA (Technical Standards & Safety Authority)was advised of the situation.
Callaghan explained the TSSA is the group which looks after propane accidents.
“There was a lot of damage and we don’t know the value at this time, until company representatives get back to us.”
He said damage included all the gas piping at the vaporizers, as well as the vaporizers which were on fire, including the piping leading in and the venting pipes.
Callaghan reported that there were no injuries and TSSA is doing an investigation from the propane handler’s side.
