The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has commented on a fire northwest of Airdrie that sent five individuals to the hospital on Monday afternoon.
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According to an emailed statement from the AER, officials said that the organization's, 'top priority during an incident is to ensure that companies take swift and effective action to protect public safety and the environment.'
"We are currently monitoring HWN Energy's response to a release of sweet gas and a fire approximately eight kilometres north of Cochrane. Roadblocks have been established to safeguard the public and facilitate ongoing emergency operations. AER staff are at the site assessing the situation and evaluating the ongoing response efforts," AER stated.
Rocky View County officials initially reported the fire as a gas well fire. It erupted at 2 p.m. yesterday north of Cochrane, 271400, and Range Road 40. While officials initially noted that they believed Orlen Upstream Canada owned the well, they later stated that the information was inaccurate.
According to HWN Energy’s website, the business is 'an oil and natural gas exploration and production company with operations focused in Central and Northern Alberta.'
"We are actively growing, both through the development of our current asset base and through the potential acquisition of additional properties in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Hawthorne Energy LLC operates in Canada through our wholly-owned subsidiary HWN Energy, Ltd."
AER further added that they will maintain an on-site presence and continue communicating with HWN to ensure that public safety and environmental protection are upheld and that all regulatory requirements are met.
"Emergency response teams and local authorities including Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) are at the site," AER concluded.
On Monday, there were reports that of the five individuals who were injured, three were listed as having life-threatening injuries, while two were listed as having non-life-threatening injuries.
In an emailed statement, provincial officials could only provide limited information because OHS is actively investigating the incident.
"It is always tragic when workers are hurt or die on the job. Our government’s goal is to have all workers return home safely after every workday. OHS is investigating an explosion at an oil and gas site near Cochrane that occurred on September 30. At least five workers were injured. As this is an active investigation, no further information will be provided by OHS at this time," the statement read.
Rocky View County officials noted late Monday evening that they had been told the fire was under control, though crews would be monitoring the situation overnight.
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