(The following story by Shelby Parker appeared on the Moose Jaw Times-Herald website on October 2.)
MOOSE JAW — Moose Jaw on Monday declared a precautionary state of emergency for the area immediately adjacent to the Canadian Pacific Railway yards downtown, in response to a propane leak from a rail car in the yards.
Residents were advised to stay away from the immediate area around the yards.
Officials said that two tanks were overweight, with one tank periodically venting propane gas.
Stores and businesses were evacuated and about 12 residents asked to move at about 2 p.m. on Monday. Arrangements were made for these residents to stay elsewhere for the night.
The CPR and the owners of the cars decided that they would either be transporting the cars out of town, where they would transfer the gases into other tanks, or they would ignite the propane coming out of the tanks to slowly burn off the excess.
A four-block radius around the CPR’s main yard was evacuated Monday afternoon after crews noticed a strong smell coming from a tanker car carrying propane.
Although the tankers are designed to vent gases from the top of the car, CPR spokeswoman Breanne Feigel said crews noticed it was “venting more than usual.”
The train was heading eastbound at the time of the incident.
Police and firefighters were called around 1:45 p.m., and the areas from 2nd Avenue NE to 2nd Avenue NW and Manitoba to River streets were cordoned off.
Late Monday, roads remained blocked and firefighters stayed on the scene until experts in Regina employed by the company shipping the propane could arrive to investigate.