5 workers taken to hospital after fire at Nova Scotia Power plant in Dartmouth
Fire crews were called to the scene before noon Sunday
Five people were taken to hospital after a fire Sunday at Nova Scotia Power's Tufts Cove station in Dartmouth.
The incident was related to the release of ash from the boiler within the facility. It involved three contractors and two employees, Mark Sidebottom, CEO of Nova Scotia Power said in a statement.
All five people involved were taken to hospital for assessment, and were released Sunday evening.
Pat Kline, acting district chief with Halifax Fire, said crews responded to a report of a small fire in a metal hopper at 11:45 a.m.
Kline said there was no danger to surrounding areas since the fire was confined to the hopper. He also said that the workers' injuries appeared to be "relatively minor."
Kline said it was decided the best course of action was to let the remaining fire burn itself out since it is contained in the hopper.
Four firefighters remained at the scene into Sunday evening as a precaution.
The cause is still under investigation by Halifax Fire and the province's Labour Department, Kline said.
Sidebottom said the company will co-operate with the province in the investigation.
Clarifications
- An earlier version of this story described the ash involved as potash, based on information from the Halifax fire department. Nova Scotia Power said Tuesday the substance was not potash, but fly ash.Feb 16, 2021 5:04 PM AT
With files from Melissa Friedman