Rink explosion in Alberta town caused by mechanical failure: investigation

A Zamboni’s mechanical failure was named Wednesday as the cause behind a blast that turned several walls of a southern Alberta town’s recreation facility to rubble.

A third-party investigation found the explosion at the community centre in Taber, Alta., last month wasn’t due to human error or a procedural mistake, officials said.

“The cause was failure of the component within the fuel system of the ice resurfacer,” Taber fire chief Steven Munshaw told reporters. 

“That failure resulted in a propane leak, which created a gas cloud within the room and across the small ice surfaces.” 

When the gas reached an electrical heater, identified as the source of the ignition, it caused the detonation inside the centre’s Zamboni room.

The blast occurred around 4 p.m. on Dec. 17, blowing out interior concrete walls, damaging a pair of hockey rinks and shattering glass.  

While about a dozen people were inside at the time, no one was injured. However, the town acknowledged there was the potential for “very serious consequences.”

While town representatives would not confirm the model of Zamboni that malfunctioned, Munshaw said it was an “isolated” one-off incident. 

“No concerns from Zamboni in the conversations we had at this point in time,” Munshaw said in response to a CBC News question.

CBC News requested comment from Zamboni on Wednesday and did not hear back at publication time.

Derrin Thibault, Taber’s chief administrator, said the review also found that town employees followed established protocol. 

“That clarity matters because in the weeks following the incident, there was a great deal of public speculation,” Thibault said during a news conference. 

“Some of that speculation unfairly placed blame on staff.”

‘Disruption and uncertainty’

The town is now turning to a recovery phase, as hundreds of hockey players, curlers and other recreation users were displaced after the centre’s indefinite closure three weeks ago.

Thibault said the town recognizes the “disruption and uncertainty” for those who rely on the space, but that it’s aligned with “a strong desire” to see parts of the facility reopen.

“Independent testing is currently underway to determine if there is any spread of hazardous materials — like asbestos in the building — and how debris must be handled,” he said. 

“Until those laboratory results are received, we do not know which portions, if any, of the community centre can be safely reopened.”

Taber is expecting to receive the lab results by mid-January, according to the CAO. 

Properly reactivating the building’s interconnected ventilation, gas, water, electrical and fire alarm systems may also prove to be a challenge to a phased re-opening.

That work is being completed alongside insurance assessments and regulatory requirements that officials said are necessary parts of the process. 

“None of this is about delay for delay’s sake,” said Thibault, adding the town will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.

‘Important decisions’ 

Mayor Andrew Prokop said the town was already considering potential renovations to the Taber Community Centre before the explosion. 

The town, he added, is waiting to hear back on an application to a federal green community building grant program while keeping its options open. 

“As discussions about the future of the community centre continue in the coming months, council will look carefully at the community needs, costs, funding options and long-term sustainability,” Prokop said. 

“These are important decisions, and they will take time and thoughtful consideration to come to the conclusion.”

The mayor said Taber has “come together” to help the rebuilding effort, with its new application into the Kraft Hockeyville contest. 

The national challenge sees Canadian communities compete for up to $250,000 in prize money for arena upgrades and host a pre-season National Hockey League game. 

“While it’s not a complete solution on its own, it does reflect the strength, spirit and togetherness of this community,” Prokop told reporters.

Videos and comments supporting Taber’s Hockeyville bid can be made until March 1.