Gas plant fire east of Calgary leaves 1 in life

Gas plant fire east of Calgary leaves 1 in life-threatening condition

STARS, Calgary HAZMAT team respond to Hussar fire

One person is in life-threatening condition after an industrial fire broke out at a gas plant east of Calgary Friday morning, EMS says.

The fire happened at the Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) Hussar plant, about 85 kilometres east of Calgary.

CNRL spokesperson Julie Woo told CBC News the fire broke out at 5:45 a.m. and crews safely extinguished it by 3:30 p.m.

Wheatland County says an evacuation order was issued for homes within a three-kilometre radius of the fire.

STARS air ambulance transported a man in his seventies to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. EMS says another person was treated at the scene. CNRL says both people injured are workers.

The Hussar, Dalum, Rockyford, Standard, Rosebud and Calgary fire departments responded to the scene, with Calgary bringing in a HAZMAT team.

"Our key priorities are the safety and security of our employees, stakeholders, and the environment," Woo said, adding that the company will provide more information when it's available.

Amir Said is a multimedia journalist with CBC Calgary. He is an alumnus of the University of Regina, and his award-winning work as a writer and photographer has been published by outlets across Canada, including Postmedia, The Hill Times and The Narwhal. Amir can be reached at amir.said@cbc.ca or through social media.

With files from Michael King and Colleen Underwood