Several injured at Edmonton plastics plant

EDMONTON – A huge explosion injured several people at AT Plastics at 4405 101st Ave. just before 8 a.m.

At least nine people were taken to hospital. Of those, one was in very serious condition, while three were in serious but stable condition. The other five had minor injuries.

The blast shook houses and rattled windows blocks away.

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"Currently, they are not extinguishing the fire because there's a fear of a second explosion," said Nikki Booth.

"They're trying to contain it."

Booth said the explosion occurred when employees were installing fireproofing in a part of the building.

Booth said all employees have been accounted for. Nearby businesses to the north are being evacuated.

Smoke continued to billow from the east end of the plant at the site, which encompasses three city blocks, causing concerns about air quality. Said Booth: "It's not good."

Strathcona County RCMP said Baseline Road west of 17th Street has been closed and will be for several hours.

Motorists will be directed to alternate routes and are encouraged to use Wye Road, Whitemud Drive or the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) when traveling to and from Edmonton.

Alberta Environment spokeswoman Cheryl Robb said the department's emergency response team is on scene and that Municipal Affairs also sent an emergency management field team.

A spokesman for Imperial Oil's Strathcona Refinery, just east of the scene of the explosion, said they were aware of the incident but it has had no impact on the refinery.

AT Plastics, a branch of Celanese, describes itself as a leading North American manufacturer of a full range of plastics called copolymers and specialty resins. Its products are used in many applications, including flexible packaging, thermal lamination film, medical products and photo voltaic cells.

jhall@thejournal.canwest.com