One injured in Energy Court encampment fire Sunday in Sudbury

Gail Spencer, the Greater Sudbury's manager of housing stability and homelessness, said they know of 212 people living in encampments across 42 locations in the city. (Alana Everson/CTV News)

One person was taken to hospital Sunday evening in Sudbury when propane canisters exploded in an encampment in Greater Sudbury.

Police said the fire started when someone lit a cigarette as someone else was trying to start a propane heater.

Deputy fire chief Jesse Oshell told CTV News that crews responded around 5 p.m.

Oshell said the sequence of events leading to the fire was difficult to put together because people quickly left the scene before firefighters arrived.

But it was clear propane tanks used for heating and cooking ignited, causing explosions and a fire. Exactly how many tents are in the encampment and were damaged was also difficult to determine.

"It's hard to say because several tents were covered with a larger tarp," he said.

Oshell said several tents were severely damaged or destroyed. In addition to the smaller green propane canisters, Oshell said the larger 20-pound propane tanks were also found at the scene, along with extension cords.

"That's a lot of fuel in an enclosed space," he said.

In an email Monday morning, Sudbury police spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn said emergency responders were dispatched to the fire at an encampment in the field behind Energy Park in Greater Sudbury.

"Information provided was that multiple explosions were heard and that the encampment was engulfed in flames," Dunn said.

"Those living in the encampment with the assistance of firefighters and officers, evacuated the tents in the area, however one individual was transported to hospital with minor injuries."

Based on the investigation, Dunn said that "it is believed that individuals inside a tent turned on a propane tank to start a heater and shortly after lit a cigarette causing the tank to explode."

"It is believed that the cause of the fire was accidental."

The area had a lot of unsafe things going on, including heating and cooking inside a crowded, enclosed space, also creating carbon monoxide concerns.

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He urged encampment residents to be extra cautious when using a propane appliance for heat, and said unattended cooking was dangerous.

"Be cautious and diligent," Oshell said.

In November, officials with Greater Sudbury said there were at least 42 encampments in the city, housing more than 200 people.

The Energy Court encampment is near an overnight warming station the city is operating for the winter, inside the former safe consumption site.