Connect with us

Canada News

Lawsuit filed in connection to explosion in Fort McMurray fire aftermath

Published

on

The wildfire in Fort McMurray in May 2016. (Photo: Alberta Wildfire Info's Facebook page)

The wildfire in Fort McMurray in May 2016. (Photo: Alberta Wildfire Info’s Facebook page)

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta.—A proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed against natural gas company Atco (TSE:ACO.X) in an explosion last May that damaged several homes in Fort McMurray, Alta.

The blast took place in the Dickinsfield neighbourhood while the entire city was under an evacuation order because of a powerful wildfire.

The lawsuit alleges the explosion was the result of the improper restoration of natural gas service to the community in the disaster’s aftermath, Calgary-based Higgerty Law said in a news release Friday.

buy inderal online http://medexhco.com/pics/outlook/jpg/inderal.html no prescription pharmacy

Asked to comment on the lawsuit, George Lidgett, managing director of pipelines and liquids for Atco, said the company is “tremendously proud” of its efforts to respond to the Fort McMurray wildfire.

“Our teams worked around the clock to keep the power on to support emergency responders fighting the flames, provide housing for emergency response personnel and restore natural gas and electricity services before residents could return,” he said in a statement.

“We have an industry-leading safety record, and always put the safety of our customers at the forefront in everything we do. Investigations into the incident continue and we will continue to work with local officials and our customers as details emerge.”

None of the allegations contained in the lawsuit, which seeks $10 million in damages, have been proven in court.

Joshua Somers, one of two representative plaintiffs in the case, said the wildfire spared his family’s home but then the explosion ripped it apart.

buy bactroban online http://medexhco.com/pics/outlook/jpg/bactroban.html no prescription pharmacy

“It’s been close to a year now, and the way things are going, we may not be back in our home for at least another year,” he said in the release.

“We want to know why Atco didn’t stop our home from being partially demolished,” he said in the release. “They have a lot of explaining to do.”

Michael Whalen, the other plaintiff, said his family has been living in a camper outside their damaged home.

“We don’t know if or when our home will ever be the same, which has put an immense amount of stress on myself and my family.”

Higgerty Law said the suit is seeking to compensate anyone who suffered loss and damage to their property as a result of the explosion, covering repair and replacement costs, other expenses and mental and emotional stress.

Higgerty Law is working on a separate proposed class-action suit related to allegations the city’s Walmart sold potentially contaminated food after the wildfire.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Maria in Vancouver

Lifestyle2 weeks ago

Nobody Wants This…IRL (In Real Life)

Just like everyone else who’s binged on Netflix series, “Nobody Wants This” — a romcom about a newly single rabbi...

Lifestyle3 weeks ago

Family Estrangement: Why It’s Okay

Family estrangement is the absence of a previously long-standing relationship between family members via emotional or physical distancing to the...

Lifestyle2 months ago

Becoming Your Best Version

By Matter Laurel-Zalko As a woman, I’m constantly evolving. I’m constantly changing towards my better version each year. Actually, I’m...

Lifestyle2 months ago

The True Power of Manifestation

I truly believe in the power of our imagination and that what we believe in our lives is an actual...

Maria in Vancouver3 months ago

DECORATE YOUR HOME 101

By Matte Laurel-Zalko Our home interiors are an insight into our brains and our hearts. It is our own collaboration...

Maria in Vancouver4 months ago

Guide to Planning a Wedding in 2 Months

By Matte Laurel-Zalko Are you recently engaged and find yourself in a bit of a pickle because you and your...

Maria in Vancouver4 months ago

Staying Cool and Stylish this Summer

By Matte Laurel-Zalko I couldn’t agree more when the great late Ella Fitzgerald sang “Summertime and the livin’ is easy.”...

Maria in Vancouver5 months ago

Ageing Gratefully and Joyfully

My 56th trip around the sun is just around the corner! Whew. Wow. Admittedly, I used to be afraid of...

Maria in Vancouver6 months ago

My Love Affair With Pearls

On March 18, 2023, my article, The Power of Pearls was published. In that article, I wrote about the history...

Maria in Vancouver6 months ago

7 Creative Ways to Propose!

Sometime in April 2022, my significant other gave me a heads up: he will be proposing to me on May...