Chemical fire at Port Metro Vancouver extinguished
Posted March 5, 2015 6:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The chemical fire at Port Metro Vancouver is extinguished.
Vancouver Fire and Rescue says the scene is safe and secure. Depending on wind conditions, the container that set ablaze Wednesday could be opened tonight.
There still no word on how, or even if, the management of hazardous materials will change following yesterday’s incident.
Port Metro Vancouver says it doesn’t have detailed information on what is stored there at any given time, but it can quickly find out.
The port says private companies manage individual container terminals and they are the ones with up-to-date information on what is coming in and where it’s being stored.
Vice President of Planning and Development Peter Xotta admits the container on fire with hazardous industrial acid had been buried under other containers.
“The dangerous goods or the containers are really handled by individual shipping lines and it really depends on their commercial arrangements with each of the terminals,” he says on whether hazardous materials could be moved through the port in Delta, instead.
Xotta points out they were able to find out what was inside the burning container immediately.
