Gas leak in Wheatley prompts evacuation, emergency response

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Chatham-Kent firefighters responded around 8 a.m. Monday to a hydrogen sulphide detector at 15 Erie St. N. in downtown Wheatley. The location was previously the site of a gas leak in early June.

Author of the article:

Dalson Chen

The area of 15 Erie St. North in Wheatley on the morning of July 19, 2021 – site of a gas leak. Photo by Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services /Windsor Star

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A report of a gas leak at a location in downtown Wheatley prompted the evacuation of nearby homes and businesses on Monday morning.

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Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services responded just after 8 a.m. to the activation of a hydrogen sulphide detector at 15 Erie St. North in Wheatley — formerly a pub-style restaurant called The Pogue.

Firefighters from two stations in Wheatley and Tilbury were sent to the scene.

The surrounding block of Erie Street North was closed to traffic, between Elm Street and Talbot Road from north to south, and between Erie Street North to Little Street from east to west.

Homes and businesses in the area were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Windsor Fire and Rescue Services were contacted to deploy their hazardous materials team.

The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre was also contacted for assistance.

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The situation remains under investigation, as of 10:30 a.m.

The same address was previously the site of a gas leak on June 2. That incident — also due to hydrogen sulphide — resulted in the declaration of a state of emergency and the displacement of at least 27 people.

Residents and business members were allowed to return on June 19, but monitoring continued at 15 Erie St. North almost until the end of the month.

Hydrogen sulphide is the primary chemical hazard in natural gas production, and also occurs commonly in sewers due to wastewater treatment.

Known for its “rotten egg” odor, hydrogen sulphide is also flammable, toxic, and corrosive.

—with files from Chatham Daily News

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