Tower collapse at Imperial Oil

Imperial Oil firefighters continued today to direct water toward the base of a collapsed tower at the Sarnia refinery. All plant personnel were accounted for and no injuries were reported, the company said.

Imperial Oil firefighters continued today to direct water toward the base of a collapsed tower at the Sarnia refinery. All plant personnel were accounted for and no injuries were reported, the company said.

Sarnia Police issued an alert through the Chemical Valley Emergency Coordinating Organization shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, advising that a tower had collapsed within the plant on the west side of South Vidal Street.

Traffic was rerouted and high flaring was taking place as that area of the refinery was shut down.

In this photo, the yellow top of the fallen tower is at left, having scraped and damaged an adjacent tower on its way down. The company said the tower was out of service at the time and being prepared for maintenance. It has not yet given a reason for the collapse.

Glenn Ogilvie