St. Catharines Fire Services continues to work with provincial and regional partners on the ongoing investigation and remediation following the Jan. 12 fire at 20 Keefer Rd. in Port Weller.
Neighbourhood safety and environmental protection remain the priorities as the complex investigation, led by the Ontario Fire Marshal, and the cleanup of the property continues. Other partners supporting this work include the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of the Environment, Niagara Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police and the Office of the Coroner.
The City has no timeline as to when the investigation will conclude. Investigators continue to ask members of the public who may have video of the explosion and fire especially in its early stages to contact Niagara Regional Police detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009964.
The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks has supported the investigation since the fire on Jan. 12 and is taking a lead role on addressing any concerns relating to environmental issues.
St. Catharines Fire Services and City staff continue to support the work of partners as required on both the investigative and remediation fronts. Road closures continue in the area to assist with the investigation and cleanup, and to ensure safety and security of the scene. We continue to ask the public to avoid the area as the work continues, and we ask for patience as neighouring roads and amenities may be affected intermittently throughout their efforts.
The City will continue to provide any updates, when available, via our website, and on our social media channels.