Propane explosion forces evacuation near southern Ontario town

SMITHVILLE, Ont. – Niagara Regional Police confirm they are evacuating an area near Smithville, Ont., – about 40 kilometres west of St. Catharines, near Lake Ontario – because of a fire and propane tank explosion.

The explosion involved BBQ propane tanks and happened around 4:20 p.m. at Superior Propane, a distribution centre at 3089 Regional Road 12, in Smithville, said Nicole Shirton, a receptionist at Smithville township office.

Fire departments from Smithville, population 13,000, as well as nearby Grimsby, Lincoln and St. Catharines were on the scene shortly after the explosion. The extend of damage is not yet known.

Global Toronto video shot from a helicopter above the scene shows what appears to be a burning, blackened truck emitting flames in a large field. Beside the truck is another vehicle or mobile office, surrounded by smaller can-like objects.

Records show a few home addresses along the same stretch of road.