Udec Corporation

UDEC: LIGHTING THE WAY TO SAFETY
Historical Moment: 1986 Pesticide Warehouse Fire

An early morning fire Maple Leaf Farm Supplies Limited pesticide warehouse situated on Main Street, Canning, Nova Scotia. A large variety and quantity of agricultural products including pesticides, herbicides, fumigants, and fertilizers were stored in the building along with seed grains, seed and table potatoes, propane cylinders and miscellaneous farm machinery.

The pesticides were stored in a variety of metal, plastic and paper containers. A large number of propane cylinders and two of gaseous methyl bromide were also present; the contents of the latter were not released during the fire.

An estimated 1.2 million litres of water was used during firefighting operations. The water, contaminated from the pesticides at the fire’s site, passed over adjacent residential properties and into a farmer’s pond, eventually finding its way into the Habitant River via drainage ditches and storm drains.

Vegetation and large numbers of worms were killed in the path of the water: fish and invertebrates died in a local farmer’s pond as well as downstream in the Habitant River. A trench was dug to intercept contaminated runoff and wash water during the cleanup phase; however, this trench was constructed after the bulk of fire-fighting water had left the site.

Municipal and Kings County officials were promptly advised, and they invoked the County Emergency Response Plan, which had been thoroughly tested only days before the fire. By 0300 hours, an evacuation of local residents by firefighters and the RCM Police was underway, including a senior citizens home that was situated very close to the fire site.

Following the evacuation, access to the entire area was restricted to those involved in responding to the incident. Residents living closest to the fire site were not permitted to return to their homes for six days

A potentially hazardous and deadly situation was adverted because of implemented safety equipment and procedures being correctly tested and used.

It’s impossible to avoid every calamity or accident, but prevention and safety are our top concerns. UDEC Emergency Lighting provides quality lighting when you need it most.

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Emergency light fixtures and exit signs are about saving lives. UDEC Corp. offers powerful, safe, unique solutions and 40 years of experience of emergency lighting and exit signs.