Irving Oil Reports "Major Incident" at Saint John, NB Refinery

SAINT JOHN, NB – According to emergency officials, it appears that there has only been "a few" minor injuries caused by the massive explosion of a refinery. of oil that rocked Saint John, NB this morning.

Geoffrey Downey, of the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization, said that no injuries would be serious "at this point".

The explosion at an Irving Oil refinery in the eastern part of the city caused a fire and thick black smoke spilled into the air.

Residents in the area reported experiencing an explosion shortly after 10 am and noted that flames and smoke were visible from afar.

A local hospital issued an "orange alert," meaning that it was preparing for a possible influx of patients, while the city of Saint John advised residents to shelter on site.

Irving Oil did not provide details of the incident, stating that it would disclose more information as soon as it was available.

This is a last minute update, follow the previous cover of the explosion below.

SAINT JOHN, NB – An explosion at an oil refinery in Saint John, NB, caused a fire and thick black smoke spilled into the air on Monday morning.

The city of Saint John confirmed the blast in a Facebook message, signaling that emergency responders were on hand.

He advised residents to reside on site and added that there was no evacuation

A local hospital said it issued an "orange alert," which meant it was preparing for a possible influx of patients.

Irving Oil did not provide details of the incident, stating that it would disclose more information as soon as it was available.

But locals reported experiencing an explosion shortly after 10 am and noted that flames and smoke were visible from afar.

Litsa Daeres, 34, who lives nearby, said she had just started preparing Thanksgiving dinner when she heard a "loud detonation".

"My whole house shook," she says. "I thought my furnace had exploded."

But then, Daeres opened her curtains and saw the flames and thick black smoke, she said.

The refinery is located near several residential neighborhoods on the east side of Saint John, about five kilometers from downtown, known as Uptown.

According to the Irving Oil website, the refinery produces more than 320,000 barrels of "finished energy products" each day, more than half of which are in the northeastern United States.

"We are refining a broad range of products for our wholesale and retail markets, including gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, jet fuel, propane and asphalt," the site says.

"Our refinery opened in 1960 on a 780-acre site and has been upgraded over the years, and we have been leading the development of cleaner, more efficient fuels and processes."

Nate Guimond, 36, said he was fixing a house when he looked out and saw the scene.

"There was thick black smoke mixed with white smoke," said Guimond. "I heard a roaring roar."

He decided to move near the refinery and stated that he was nearby when he felt the vibrations of what he supposed to be a second explosion.

Michael Steeves, who lives in Saint John, said he was driving about a kilometer when he noticed what was going on at the refinery.

"From where I was, you could see flames – I guess they were at a hundred feet in the air – and you have a huge plume of black smoke," he said. he said about an hour and a half later.

He said he saw hundreds of locals watching the situation unfold from a distance.

Saint John police tweeted that they were reacting to the incident and asked people to stay away from the area. Several streets have been closed.

Steeves said the incident reminded him of a similar event in the late '90s, when the same refinery suffered a similar blast that killed a person.

"Just to see the clouds and what they shut down, it seems like a fairly similar level of events," he said.

Irving said on Twitter that the company "actively assesses the situation" and will share more information as soon as it is available.

The Horizon Regional Hospital in Saint John is on alert and ready to
offer help after the explosion of the Saint John Oil Refinery.

– Horizon Health (@HorizonHealthNB) October 8, 2018

Huge plume of black smoke and flames from the Irving Oil refinery in Saint John following the announcement of an explosion @CTVAtlantic. pic.twitter.com/zFUI5JqQSK

– Laura Lyall (@LauraLyallCTV) October 8, 2018

We can confirm that a major incident occurred at our refinery in Saint John this morning. We are actively evaluating the situation at this time and will share more information when it becomes available.

– Irving oil (@irvingoil) October 8, 2018

Hoping that all workers and first responders remain safe on this Thanksgiving Monday, an explosion and a fire occur at the Saint John Irving Oil Refinery !!! pic.twitter.com/mEQKroDTBs

– Jason Stephen (@jasonstephensj) October 8, 2018

My father stopped to take some pictures of the refinery's fire until he (and the other spectators) were told by the cops to move. #Saint Jean pic.twitter.com/gvaUTeOxas

– Julianne, passionate about ghosts (@JulianneSteeves) October 8, 2018

#Saint Jean emergency at the refinery. #NB pic.twitter.com/Wph0ODjn5G

– David Kelly (@DavidKellyNB) October 8, 2018

It's only a 5 minute drive from my home. Part of an oil refinery. All this business had to leave, I am a dead man. I sent a message to my friends who are working there. It's a terrible thing to happen. I hope everyone is fine. This is in Saint John NB. pic.twitter.com/JU36OI3Bga

– Trevor Hickey (@RockMetalFiend) October 8, 2018

Bad situation in Saint John pic.twitter.com/gPrEGyHkqQ

– Gerald (@RIPINSIX) October 8, 2018