Homeless shelter guests and nearby medical staff provided assistance after explosion at Red Deer business

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In an update, Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) could only say that the investigation is ongoing.

“It is always tragic when workers are injured on the job,” the branch of Alberta’s jobs ministry says. “Our government’s goal is to have all workers return home safely after every workday.”

Meantime, Safe Harbour executive director, Perry Goddard, says amid the chaos, there was compassion.

“The explosion shook our building a block away. Staff then looked out the window and what they saw were about eight of our guests running to the side of the building. That alerted our medical staff, as well as medical staff at the OPS and the new medical trailer, and they were next to arrive,” says Goddard.

“Some of the guests were men, some were women, some had been camped outside, and they grabbed their tarps and blankets to make sure those coming out of the building, some of whom were on fire, were protected.”

Goddard says one homeless man, purportedly a former fire fighter, ran into the building to pull people to safety.

Safe Harbour is still seeking out some of those folks who were on scene to help.

But those who have been identified were offered professional assistance Thursday evening to process what they saw.

“Some of our staff and management are trained in critical incident debriefing,” he said, sharing that it was a heavy night.

Goddard also shared that there were a number of folks eyeing the scene with cellphones, which possibly could’ve hindered emergency services from doing their job.

But in the end, he adds, emergency services still managed to do an incredible job containing the fire that broke out.

Cole Starling, assistant deputy fire chief with RDES, says there have not been any official reports of people impeding emergency services, but the possibility serves as a reminder for future incidents.

“It’s always paramount in an incident like this to make way for first responders. People, by nature, gravitate towards incidents and we understand that, but the big thing is for people to not impede,” he said.

“The people of Red Deer should be proud of the men and women who come to work at RDES; yesterday, what I saw was professionalism, dedication, and care for the community, and that’s what we always strive for.”

Starling clarified that the two people in critical condition were airlifted to hospitals outside of Red Deer, while at least one of the remaining three was able to go home late Thursday night.

Some crews may remain on scene in the hours and days to come, as OH&S investigate.

by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Homeless shelter guests and nearby medical staff provided assistance after explosion at Red Deer business

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