Propane leak caused explosion in Taber arena

Investigation Reveals Cause of Explosion at Taber Community Centre

A propane leak in an ice surfacing machine caused a chain-reaction explosion inside the Taber community centre’s ice rink last month. This was revealed in an investigation announced on Wednesday in the small southern Alberta town.

Details of the Explosion

Taber Fire Chief Steve Munshaw held a news conference to clarify that the explosion on December 17 was not due to human error. He stated, “The cause was failure of a component within the fuel system of the ice resurfacer. That failure resulted in a propane leak which created a gas cloud within the room and across the small ice surfaces.”

Munshaw explained that an electrical heater in the small ice surface room ignited the gas cloud, leading to the explosion.

Damage and Impact

Photos taken after the blast show several collapsed concrete walls and debris scattered over a large area of the building. The community centre houses two ice rinks, a curling rink, an archery range, several meeting rooms, and a privately-operated health club.

At the time of the explosion, a dozen people were in the building. Fortunately, there were no injuries due to the quick actions of staff and emergency responders. Mayor Andrew Prokop expressed gratitude, saying, “Damage is one thing. That can be replaceable — people are not. So we’re very fortunate, very thankful.”

Facility Status and Future Plans

While the investigation is complete, much of the facility remains unusable, affecting town residents significantly. Prokop noted, “The community center is more than just a building. It is a gathering for sports, recreation, local programs, and businesses.”

The town stated that until insurance and safety assessments are complete, cleanup cannot begin, and a timeline for reopening is not available. Chief Administrative Officer Darren Tebow mentioned, “Independent testing is currently underway to determine if there is any spread of hazardous materials like asbestos in the building.”

Building History and Community Support

The building was constructed around 1970, a time when asbestos was commonly used in concrete cinder block construction. Tebow hopes to provide a tentative reopening timeline by the end of January.

In the meantime, other departments are providing space for displaced employees, and surrounding communities have offered ice time for local hockey teams. Prokop said, “That generosity has meant a great deal not only to the municipality, but to the community as a whole.”

Future Renovations and Grants

Before the explosion, the town had begun discussing possible renovations and had applied for several government grants. The town is also participating in the Kraft Hockeyville contest, which offers a $250,000 grant for improvements to the winning town’s arena.