Photograph by Josie Vallier/Kingstonist.
Editor’s observe: This text has been up to date because it was initially printed. Please see backside of article for many lately up to date info.
A fireplace within the space of Progress Avenue close to McKay Road has resulted in poisonous fumes being launched into the air, in response to Kingston Police.
Kingston Fireplace and Rescue and Kingston Police responded to the world simply after midday on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. Whereas the character of the hearth and what triggered the hazardous materials response stays unknown right now, Kingston Police did say that a variety of space faculties have been placed on maintain and safe measures, which implies college students and workers will stay indoors till authorities have cleared them as secure to go away the buildings. Police referred to the hearth as an “industrial fire.”
It seems the hearth probably broke out at Kingston Course of Metallurgy, which conducts analysis and improvement for chemical, mining and metallurgy firms, in response to the corporate web site.
Kingston Police are asking that residents and motorists keep away from the world as emergency responders assess and handle the state of affairs at hand. A big presence of police and firefighters is predicted within the space over the approaching hours.
Kingstonist reached out to the Limestone District College Board for particulars on the maintain and safe measures on the close by faculties, and can present additional updates as extra info turns into out there.
Replace (Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at 1:45 p.m.):
The protection precaution measures put in place at some faculties in Kingston’s west finish as we speak have been lifted, in response to messaging despatched to households of the affected faculties.
Kingstonist has continued to comply with up with the Limestone District College Board and Kingston Police, however neither has responded instantly. Kingstonist has additionally reached out to Kingston Fireplace & Rescue, however not obtained response.
Nonetheless, in a message despatched to the households of scholars at faculties that had been positioned on precautionary measures, these measure had been lifted at roughly 12:55 p.m. In response to the messaging, the colleges weren’t positioned on maintain and safe, however reasonably on shelter in place measures, opposite to what Kingston Police had mentioned earlier. The shelter in place measures had been put in place at Lancaster Drive Public College, Bayridge Public College, Bayridge Secondary College, Frontenac Secondary College, Module de l’Acadie, and Trudell Public College, in response to messaging obtained by faculty households.
The messaging additional indicated that the measures had been put in place “due to a local manufacturing facility off-gassing,” the college board informed LDSB households at affected faculties.
It’s now unclear if a hearth ever occurred on the facility within the space of Progress Avenue and McKay Road. Kingston Police have relayed they’re unsure if there was a hearth or not. Regardless, Kingston Fireplace and Rescue crews had been on scene within the space from 12:03 p.m. to 1:13 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 for a “hazardous materials response,” in response to PulsePoint data.
This text might be up to date when extra info turns into out there.
Replace (Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at 3 p.m.):
Kingston Fireplace & Rescue have now confirmed that there was no fireplace as we speak on Progress Avenue, however {that a} hazardous supplies name did happen, which prompted precautionary response at native faculties.
In response to the native fireplace division, crews had been dispatched the world of Progress Avenue and McKay Road at roughly 12 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. A hazardous supplies incident had been reported within the 700 block of Progress Avenue, Kingston Fireplace & Rescue relayed, and firefighters discovered “yellow-brown coloured smoke rising from the roof area of the building” upon arrival.
“Workers on site informed the crews that the incident involved two chemicals that were being heated as part of a controlled experiment. The exhaust system, designed to capture any emissions through scrubbers, was overwhelmed when a rupture disc failed, releasing gas into the laboratory,” the hearth division mentioned, noting that the chemical response induced off-gassing.
“As a precautionary measure, fire crews immediately blocked off nearby streets and monitored air quality levels within the lab,” Kingston Fireplace & rescue continued.
“Due to the setup of the laboratory’s negative pressure ventilation system, the team was unable to manually ventilate the space and had to rely on the building’s scrubber system to gradually reduce levels. Fire crews remained on scene to conduct air monitoring, at which point fire crews concluded their operation and streets were reopened. All personnel, as well as surrounding businesses and residents, remained safe throughout the incident.”
This incident was first reported to Kingstonist by Kingston Police, who had been underneath the impression {that a} fireplace had damaged out at a producing facility within the space. It additionally resulted in a handful of Limestone District College Board (LDSB) faculties being positioned on shelter in place measures (however not maintain and safe measures, as initially reported by Kingston Police). As famous above, the shelter in place measures had been lifted on the faculties at roughly 12:55 p.m.
On the similar time, few LDSB faculties had been positioned on lockdown or maintain and safe measures east of the world the place the hazardous materials name occurred, because of an unrelated incident. Whereas the LDSB didn’t reply to Kingstonist inquiries in regards to the state of affairs at west-end faculties as a result of incident on Progress Avenue, the board did launch details about the state of affairs that noticed Kingston Secondary College (KSS) and Module Vanier positioned on lockdown, and Molly Brant Elementary College positioned on maintain and safe. Kingston Police additionally launched info on that state of affairs, which occurred because of stories of an individual with a weapon on KSS. That individual was apprehended by police, however didn’t have a weapon in the long run, in response to Kingston Police.
