Damage to J.W. Walker limited to gym

The evacuation order for residents in the area of the Keating Avenue gas leak was lifted late Friday afternoon, and J.W. Walker School has been returned to the control of the Rainy River District School Board.
But the investigation continues into the exact cause of the explosion and fire at the school in the early-morning hours of last Thursday.

Rolf Waffler, an investigator from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office, stated Friday afternoon that the cause of the explosion was a leak in a gas main. The natural gas was able to enter the building along a watermain, where it accumulated in the building.
The explosion happened in the boys’ change room by the gymnasium.
But the source of ignition has not yet been determined, and the investigation continues.
Waffler returned to Thunder Bay on Saturday, bringing with him evidence from the scene for further review.
While the school’s gym was heavily-damaged, Waffler said the school itself is “not a total loss.”
“The loss is confined to the gymnasium. Water damage is confined to the sub-basement area and classrooms, and to the office and library area,” he explained.
“However, that water damage is only on the floor as a result of the broken sprinkler system,” he added. “There was no opportunity for the utility to shut it off as the gas leak was at the shut-off.
“The area of the original school is intact. There is only water damage on the floor. Everything that was on the desks or on the walls was okay. On the second floor, there is no damage, no smoke damage, nothing,” added Waffler.
Waffler said this part of the school could be used again, but exactly when depends “on what engineers determine are the safety issues in regards to the collapse of the gym.”
Waffler said this certainly isn’t the first natural gas explosion he’s seen.
“Natural gas or fuel vapour explosions are very large in scale,” he noted. “Unlike a chemical explosion, with dynamite for instance, these explosions push and shove walls, so the damage looks significantly greater than what would be caused by a chemical-type explosion.
“This is a normal scene for a natural gas explosion.”
Waffler also noted it’s “fortunate” the explosion happened just before 1 a.m. on Thursday.
“There were no kids in school and very few people walking the street at that hour of the night,” he remarked. “If school had been in session, we’d be talking about quite a different situation.”
Union Gas, with the assistance of the Town of Fort Frances Public Works and private contractors, are continuing to work in the area.
Temporary repairs to the pipeline are complete, with Union Gas crews remaining on site to complete a permanent repair.