Notice for residents in Port Weller east regarding Keefer Road fire investigation

Dear Port Weller neighbours,

As cleanup and investigation of the fire at 20 Keefer Rd. continues, the City of St. Catharines and St. Catharines Fire Services would like to assure residents in the Port Weller area that neighbourhood safety and protecting the environment remain key priorities as we work with our partners.

During this ongoing effort, the City is working with all partners to ensure things are as safe as possible for the nearby residents and businesses. The fire was contained and extinguished on Jan. 12, and residents were safe to return home. Since then, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, has continuously monitored air and water quality, to ensure there are no risks to those in the area.

If you have any concerns about soil, water, air or other environmental issues, or any other property-related concerns relating to the incident, contact the Ministry of the Environment’s Niagara District Office at 905-704-3900 during regular business hours, or the Spills Action Centre after hours at 1-800-260-6868. You can also email environment.niagara@ontario.ca, and copy the City of St. Catharines at emergencymanagement@stcatharines.ca.

The City’s Economic Development team has also been liaising with adjacent businesses that have been affected and will continue communications when required.

Fire Investigation

Investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Office of the Fire Marshal is working with St. Catharines Fire Services, the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of the Environment, Niagara Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police and the Office of the Coroner.

Investigators are appealing to the public who may have video of the explosion and fire especially in its early stages. Members of the public are asked to contact Niagara Regional Police detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009964.

Road Closures and Site Security

Several roads remain closed in the area to support the investigation and cleanup efforts, including the ongoing environmental monitoring and remediation. We understand this may be an inconvenience to nearby residents and businesses, but these closures are being maintained to ensure safety and security.

The incident site remains blocked off by security, and we continue to urge the public to stay away from the property as the investigation and cleanup continues. Please allow the professionals from all of the respective agencies to do their work.

There may be other neighbouring roads and amenities that will be affected intermittently as the efforts continue.

Looking Ahead

At present, the City is unable to provide a timeline on the cleanup and reopening of all of the roads in the area, due to the complexity of the investigation. We will continue to provide any updates via the City’s website and on our social media channels.

The City is also planning a community update meeting at the completion of the investigation and when further details are available as a result. We will provide updates on this opportunity when details are available.

Thank you to the community for its support since the start of the incident. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and patience.