Venting System in Wheatley (Courtesy Municipality of Chatham-Kent)Venting System in Wheatley (Courtesy Municipality of Chatham-Kent)
Windsor

Gas flares in Wheatley

Chatham-Kent's Director of Public Works, Ryan Brown, announced that combustible gas was released at the Wheatley site on Friday.

The initial flare was followed by a second event later in the evening and the municipality confirmed that the systems, procedures and venting stack worked according to design and there was no danger to public safety.

Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services were also on-site and monitored the air around the perimeter of the evacuation zone to ensure safety.

The municipality said that following the second incident the flare stack was ignited to control the gas and the site was set up for overnight observation. Gas levels lowered and the stack was extinguished at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

"We are pleased that the mitigation equipment/procedures on-site are working exactly as planned and are confident that the current evacuation zone remains secure," Brown said in a release.

Wheatley's evacuation zone was just reduced a little under two weeks ago.

 

Read More Local Stories

New military crosswalk rendering. (Image courtesy of the Sarnia Legion Branch 62)

New military crosswalk in Sarnia to be unveiled

As part of a partnership between the Sarnia Legion Branch 62 and City of Sarnia, an unveiling ceremony will be held at the corner of Christina Street and Wellington Street on Sunday, June 7, at 2 p.m.

Members of the Sarnia Police Service entering a Tashmoo Avenue residence on June 4, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Sarnia Police Service)

Two men arrested in Tashmoo Ave. standoff

Sarnia police said the investigation began on May 29 after the victim was allegedly attacked by acquaintances at a residence near Tashmoo Avenue and Christopher Drive at Aamjiwnaang First Nation.