Police say five of the eight people injured in an explosion at a refinery in Come By Chance, NL have been airlifted to the provincial capital for medical treatment. Newfoundland RCMP Cpl. Jolene Garland would not comment on the condition of the patients, saying only that those transported needed “additional medical attention” beyond what was available in nearby Clarenville, NL. Local RCMP closed a Sobeys grocery store parking lot to traffic around 8 p.m. Friday so two emergency aircraft could land and pick up the victims for transport to St. John’s. The cause of Friday’s explosion and subsequent fire at the refinery 150 kilometers west of St. John’s is being investigated by police and the province’s Occupational Health and Safety department. Jim Stump, president of the refinery with refinery owner Braya Renewable Fuels, issued a statement Saturday saying his team is on the scene and working with the investigation to ensure they can “prevent incidents like this from happening.” The refinery, which is the main source of employment in the area, was once an oil production facility undergoing conversion to renewable diesel and sustainable jet fuel. A company spokesman previously said the conversion effort was still underway at the time of the explosion. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on September 3, 2022. — This story was produced with financial assistance from Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.
