Early morning explosion at Regina's Co-op Refinery rocks homes, rattles nerves

People living in Regina's north end were awakened early this morning by an explosion at Regina's Consumers' Co-operative Refinery main plant that shook homes as far as two kilometres away.

The explosion happened at about 4:45 a.m. CST Tuesday near gate No. 3 on Ninth Avenue North near McDonald Street.

Emergency alarm horns were activated and could be heard across the north end of the city for more than 15 minutes.

Alexa Denis, who lives just west of the refinery in the Churchill Downs neighbourhood, was awakened by the explosion, but said she's come to expect loud noises living close to the refinery and a major railroad.

"I heard a big bang, didn't really think much of it, because it was four-thirty in the morning. I was like, did another house explode? I wasn't sure if it was a dream," Denis said.

 "It's a little nerve-racking sometimes. There have been other smaller explosions or fires and stuff, but that just kind of comes with the risk."

There's no word yet on what caused the blast, but a fire was still burning as of 6 a.m CST.

WATCH | Early morning explosion rocks Regina's Co-op refinery: 

Early morning explosion rocks Regina's Co-op refinery

3 days ago

Duration 1:49

The north end of Regina woke up to emergency sirens after an explosion at the Co-op refinery.

According to a refinery spokesperson, all personnel were accounted for and two employees were assessed for minor injuries.

"The incident has been contained and the impacted area has been stabilized," said refinery spokesperson Andrew Swenson in an emailed statement.

Swenson said the Regina Fire Department and Occupational Health and Safety are investigating what caused the explosion.

Tuesday's explosion wasn't the first at the Regina refinery.

In 2011, 52 people were injured by an explosion and fire that was later determined to be caused by a corroded pipe that leaked.

Consumers' Co-operative Refineries Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that all work was sufficiently and competently supervised in that incident.

A judge fined the company $280,000 for contravention of the Occupation Health and Safety Act as well as a victim surcharge.

The Regina Fire Department says after the initial explosion crews were burning off extra product in the lines, but no high pressure lines were involved in the fire.