Gas Ruled Out Of Edgerton Training Explosion

Editor's note: Although the exact circumstances are still unknown, this incident is an important reminder to always take fire and emergency services training evolutions seriously, since you never know what might happen. Live-burn training, in acquired structures or specially-constructed burn buildings, is just as real as an actual fire; the chemistry and physics of fire don't change because you're doing training. As one of my first fire instructors was quick to remind us on the drill field, the fire doesn't care. Trends and hazards in firefighter training were the subjects of a 2003 special report by the United States Fire Administration, which can be downloaded here from the USFA website.
Chief Adam K. Thiel, FireRescue1 Editorial Advisor

The Canadian Press

Related Article: 6 Canadian firefighters injured in explosion during controlled burn Related content sponsored by:

EDMONTON, Canada — Alberta investigators have ruled out methane and natural gas as the cause of an explosion of a farmhouse during a firefighters' training exercise.

Wainwright Fire Chief Steve Douglas said soil samples have been taken from the blast site near Edgerton and sent to a lab for testing.

Six volunteer firefighters were doing a controlled burn on an abandoned farmhouse Monday night when the building exploded, leaving a huge crater.

The group was performing a regular training exercise, something they did every two weeks without any problems.

One of the more severely injured firefighters, Bob Heim, remains in the University of Alberta hospital recovering from several injuries, including broken bones.

Werner Heim says his 21-year-old son is in good spirits, but it will take a long time for his injuries to heal.

''Part of a wall hit his legs, that's why they're broken and he lost his helmet, he knocked his head on the ground, he broke the arm in the process and some debris opened up the shoulder,'' Werner said.

He said he could hear the explosion from 8 km away.

Werner said his son and two others were told to search the building for risks, but reported that they didn't see any.

''They did everything according to the book,'' said Werner.

Edmonton Fire Chief Ken Block says when firefighters are dealing with a live fire, things can quickly go wrong.

''If you're responding to a live event, you've got your game face on and sometimes at a training exercise it can be downplayed a little bit,'' said Block.

Edmonton firefighters don't use old buildings to practice their skills — they have a facility in the west end.