THUNDER BAY – Just after 10 a.m., residents across the city were disturbed loud bang that shook people’s properties.
The cause was a planned blast at a quarry north-east of the Thunder Bay.
Residents questioned what caused the event after feeling or hearing the blast shortly after it happen, with some asking on social media whether there had been an explosion in the city.
Pioneer Construction Inc. put out a letter, dated Thursday, to some residents and business owners stating that they are doing some blasting at their quarry on Copenhagen Road.
The letter said there will be one blast. Traffic controls are in place to keep everyone safe.
The Terry Fox Information Centre, which is near the quarry site, was closed from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. as a precaution, according to a post to social media.
Current River Resident George Saarinen told Newswatch in an interview that he “thought it was thunder.”
“Then I went to this Current River neighbourhood Facebook page, and I started seeing the comments of people saying my house shook, and what the heck is going on? It sounded like a bomb went off. I live on Leslie. I live on Toledo. I live on Court Street. I live in Current River,” Saarinen said.
He said his concern was that Pioneer Construction Inc. didn’t communicate enough with the residents.
“I don't think they did enough for public relations. They should have informed a larger part of the neighbourhood, perhaps to put something out there, because it was a total shock to so many of us,” Saarinen said.
Fred Hakala, Pioneer Construction Inc. general manager, confirmed with Newswatch that they were doing a single blast at their quarry this morning.
He said they schedule blasting on clearer days.
“We like to do it on clear days where it has less notice with the low ceiling. The vibration from the blast seems to be more severe, and our preference is we set off a blast approximately once a year. We try to schedule for nice, clear days so it has less public effect,” Hakala said.
This story has been updated with new information.
