Closed gas station partially collapses in Greater Sudbury

Emergency crews in Greater Sudbury were called to the community of Azilda on Saturday afternoon following a report that part of a closed gas station had collapsed.

The former Esso service station on Notre Dame Avenue West – which according to officials with Greater Sudbury Fire Services is now under new ownership and construction crews had been working on the site recently, had its canopy which covers the fuel pumps partially collapse.

Greater Sudbury emergency services called to the former Esso service station on Notre Dame Avenue West in the community of Azilda on Saturday afternoon following a report that part of the gas station had collapsed. (Supplied/Greater Sudbury Fire Services)“When arriving on scene they (fire crews) did note that the canopy was in a rather precarious situation,” said deputy fire chief Jesse Oshell.

“It was leaning over, it was not attached any longer and an extreme hazard.”

• Download the CTV News app now
• Get local breaking news alerts

Fire officials told CTV News that the site is part of a very open and wide area and the construction site was not secure – posing a safety risk.

“Lots of pedestrians coming and going through here,” said Oshell.

“Lots of young children coming through the area so it was an immediate hazard.”

Oshell said the area was easily accessible by anyone and unsafe.

"In a situation like this where it may have been a potential demolition of the site, we would expect to see construction fencing, a safe perimeter, signage, potentially security even if it’s that type of situation,” he said.

“In this case, there was none present of any of those items.”

No injuries related to the collapse have been reported.

Fire crews mitigated the immediate risks to public safety.

Greater Sudbury Fire Services mitigated the immediate risks to public safety following the collapse by securing the scene and ensuring utilities were turned off. (CTV New Northern Ontario)“Fire services has ensured that the scene is secure – well barricaded, taped off and marked,” said Oshell.

“We have ensured that the utilities have been disconnected from the facility.”

• Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
• Want more local news? Check out the Sudbury page

Officials said both police and the city have been notified of the hazardous situation.

“We have engaged with our partners at Greater Sudbury Police Service as we do not know the extent of the situation here and or what occurred,” said Oshell.

“We are also going to be working with our partners the City of Greater Sudbury building services.”

He said information has been passed on to both authorities in an effort to ensure ongoing safety at the site.

CTV News was unable to confirm if proper permits had been issued for the work being done at the site or if any charges are being considered.

Oshell said there is no immediate risk to public safety now that emergency services have brought the canopy down and put it in a safe position.

This was the scene Saturday evening after emergency crews in Greater Sudbury brought down and safely secured a partially collapsed canopy at a former Esso service station in the community of Azilda. (CTV News Northern Ontario)Emergency crews were busy in Greater Sudbury on Saturday with two fires also reported in the residential neighborhood of Hanmer.