Investigation in Wheatley on July 19, 2021 (Photo via CK Fire Twitter)Investigation in Wheatley on July 19, 2021 (Photo via CK Fire Twitter)
Chatham

UPDATE: Emergency crews investigate possible gas detection in Wheatley

Members of the public are being asked to avoid downtown Wheatley as fire officials investigate the possible detection of hydrogen sulfide.

According to Chatham-Kent Fire, crews responded to 15 Erie Street after the hydrogen sulfide detector activated just after 8 a.m. Monday.

As a result, Erie Street North between Talbot Street and Elm Street and Talbot Street East between Erie Street to Little Street have been closed off.

In an update provided Monday evening, the municipality confirmed that the hydrogen sulfide gas is present in the building, but the source is unknown.

A total of 52 people in 23 homes and 13 businesses in those areas are also being evacuated as a precaution. Housing Officers from Community Human Services are working with displaced residents to provide emergency accommodation where needed.

In early June, a state of emergency was decaled in downtown Wheatley after a hydrogen sulfide gas leak in the downtown core.

Hydrogen sulphide is a naturally occurring gas that comes from deep in the earth and can be toxic and flammable.

The state of emergency was lifted after a little over two weeks, following several days of gas no longer being detected at the site.

Firefighters from several local stations are currently at the scene, along with official with Enbridge Gas and Entegrus.

According to Chatham-Kent Fire, a hazmat team from Windsor is also surveying the area and The Provincial Emergency Operation Centre has been contacted to request assistance from provincial partners.

https://twitter.com/ckfiredept/status/1417128586193035264

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