UPDATED 3:17 p.m.
The City of Saint John Emergency Measures Organization tell us the fire at the Irving Oil refinery is under control.
Responders remain active on scene and the City EMO is monitoring the situation.
It says Horizon Health is treating four people for non-life threatening injuries.
Some roads in the area remain closed and no evacuations are required for residents at this time.
The explosion this morning occurring during the annual shutdown at the refinery.
Horizon Health just tweeted they treated five people and they have all been discharged.
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We have received an update from Irving Oil on the Saint John refinery explosion.
Irving Oil tweeting they now understand that all employees and contractors working on site have been safely accounted for.
As an update on our Saint John refinery incident this morning, we now understand that all employees and contractors working on site have been safely accounted for. Several contractors are being treated for non-life threatening injuries in relation to this incident. 1/2
— Irving Oil (@irvingoil) October 8, 2018
It says several contractors are being treated for non-life threatening injuries in relation to this incident.
The company acknowledges it’s an active situation and they will share more information as it becomes available.
They offer thanks to all first responders who are responding to this incident.
Thick black smoke coming from the Irving Oil refinery in East Saint John today after an explosion was felt all over the city just after 10 am this morning.
Irving Oil confirming through Twitter that a major incident occurred this morning and they are actively assessing the situation and will share more information when it’s available.
More black smoke and some flames coming from the Irving Oil Refinery in #SaintJohn, but the smoke has since gone back to being grey in colour. pic.twitter.com/ciRoHUWn5z
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) October 8, 2018
Lisa Caissie from the City of Saint John says there are no plans to evacuate residents at this time and people are being asked to shelter in place.
The City’s Emergency Measures Organization has been activated and they are at the scene along with fire and police.
Diane Blackwell lives on Eugene Way and says the whole building shook and they were wondering what happened.
She could see thick, black billowing smoke.
Deborah Richardson tells us she is from Boston but is here visiting her father in Saint John who lives on Martha Avenue.
She says she heard a “large bang/explosion-type thing”.
“I went downstairs and asked if she was ok, it was a big “boom” but I didn’t know what it was,” Richardson said.
Richardson says the house vibrated a little bit and she looked outside and didn’t see anything at first.
District Chief Mike Carr first up to speak. Starts by thanking first responders for their response to this morning’s incident in #SaintJohn. Also thanks citizens for their patience for information. pic.twitter.com/LToQzT7LNr
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) October 8, 2018
(photo courtesy of Joe Comeau)
