Canadian propane fire probed

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ST. CATHARINES, Ontario, April 2 (UPI) -- Authorities Friday were investigating a major fire at a propane tank facility in Canada's Niagara region, officials said.

Niagara Regional Police Constable Nilan Dave told The Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator the first explosions at the Superior Propane plant in the town of Smithville started around 4 p.m. Thursday.

He said at least 12 home-use 40-pound propane tanks blew up and threatened to ignite hundreds of others, as well as two large supply tanks that hold 30,000 and 49,000 gallons, the report said.

Firefighters from three departments took two hours to contain the fire, hampered by the fact there wasn't enough water. Fire trucks had to leave the scene to refill their water tanks, the report said.

There were six employees at the site when the explosions and fire started, but no injuries were reported.

Dave said the cause of the fire was being investigated, but wasn't considered suspicious.

"There is no indication that the fire was set deliberately -- no one was seen running from the facility," he said.