Toronto police ordered the evacuation of neighbourhoods within 1.6 kilometres of Sunrise Propane.
Thousands of people living between Keele Street, Dufferin Street, Sheppard Street and Wilson Avenue were ordered to leave their homes and are not expected to be allowed to return for approx. 72 hours.
The place is still not secured, at the time of this post, 15 hours after the occurrence.
Census figures for the area suggest that more than 12,000 people live in the affected zone.
Many of the evacuees are being housed at York University, where they can sleep in beds set up in the school gymnasium. The Red Cross is supplying food and water to evacuees, while the Humane Society is providing food and water to pets.
The first explosion, which could be heard seven kilometres away, shook nearby homes and buildings, waking residents at 3:50 AM. Hundreds of smaller explosions would go off at the rate of four every 10 seconds.
A veteran firefighter of 25 years of service, died trying to extinguish a massive fire at a propane depot A no-fly zone was ordered over the area, as emergency workers feared that propane tankers parked on the site might spark further explosions, although those fears were diminishing by about 11:30 a.m. ET.
Natural gas and hydro were shut off to the area as a precaution.
Ignition Temperature in Air for propane to combust - 920-1020°F
Maximum Flame Temperature 3595°F
People reported either seeing, hearing or feeling the explosions from Niagara-On-The-Lake, Aurora, and Mississauga.
Astonishing so few were hurt.
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