RCMP are investigating after an explosion at a welding shop in an industrial area south of Edmonton Thursday morning.
The blast occurred in Nisku around 8:15 a.m., RCMP said.
RCMP said the explosion occurred inside Ja-Co Welding at 1304 8th St. in the Nisku Business Park.
“Leduc RCMP were called to a business in Nisku, [to] reports of an explosion on site there,” RCMP Const. Mike Hibbs told CBC News. “Upon arrival, they discovered a small fire.
“At this point, we’re not sure of any casualties or if anyone was involved in the incident.”
Police said there is no concern for public safety but members of the public are being asked to stay away from the area.
Emergency crews were called to the scene of an explosion inside Ja-co Welding, a welding and machine shop in Nisku. (Ja-co welding Website)
Leduc RCMP, firefighters, paramedics and investigators with Occupational Health and Safety are on scene, police said in a news release around 10 a.m.
“Our crews, including more than 20 firefighters from Station 1 (Nisku), Station 6 (Calmar) and Station 5 (EIA) worked quickly to evacuate the building,” said Leduc County Fire Chief Keven Lefebvre in an emailed statement.
“After a primary search of the building, a decision was made to allow acetylene tanks, which were on fire, to vent off. This will mitigate risks on scene.”
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, Lefebvre said. Crews will remain on scene as required, he said.
Nisku is a hamlet and an industrial park within Leduc County, about 25 kilometres south of downtown Edmonton.
According to the company website, Ja‐Co Welding, is a 110,000 square-foot facility divided into fabrication shops, offices and a machine shop.