Police in Summerside, P.E.I., say they no longer anticipate the need for mandatory shelter-in-place notices due to the Sunbank Solar/Battery Farm fire. The fire started Monday morning and was quickly contained, but it continues to cause air quality concerns. The city says the cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Voluntary evacuation notice Residents within an approximately 500-metre radius of the scene were urged to evacuate the area Monday afternoon. Police said the evacuation was issued “out of an abundance of caution” due to concerns surrounding smoke. By Tuesday night, nearby residents were told to prepare for the possibility of a mandatory shelter-in-place order. However, by Wednesday morning, police said the order would not be needed due to improved changes in weather and wind conditions. The voluntary shelter-in-place order for the immediate area remains in place until air quality improves. Police say conditions at the site are showing signs of improvement and wind conditions continue to be trending in the positive direction. “Summerside Fire Services will continue operations throughout the day, while Summerside Police Services will continue using drone thermal imaging to monitor the site for temperature changes and any potential flare-ups,” reads a social media update. ‘We still have an active scene’ Deputy Mayor Cory Snow provided an update just after noon on Wednesday. Snow said the fire department was still on site, but said overall conditions seemed to be improving over the past 12 hours or so. “But we still have an active scene that we have to monitor and make sure we see progress,” said Snow. Snow said there are four battery banks at the solar farm. One caught fire and then spread to a second one. “The first one has been totally extinguished. We’re still monitoring, making sure, because there’s always the risk that it could re-ignite. And they continue to work on that second battery bank to make sure that we get it out safely,” said Snow. Snow said entire battery system cost roughly $15-to-$20 million. As far as any environmental concerns, the deputy mayor said regular air and water testing has been done, and they’ve been in contact with the province’s department of public health. “As of right now, all of the results are coming back very positive. We’re not seeing significant air concerns or water concerns,” said Snow. Snow said it’s been a stressful few days for residents and the municipality in general and firefighters have been working hard to keep the city safe. The situation all week has been a volatile one, Snow said, and the municipality put out notices when they could, to keep the public informed. “I would say we weren’t to the point where we were getting ready to evacuate, but the discussions definitely were had, what that looks like,” said Snow. “Shelter in place, voluntary ones were put in place and then possible mandatory ones to prepare residents for what they might see the day after, but I don’t think we were at the point where we were going to evacuate.” Snow said the province’s Emergency Measures Operation was also on site this week. Ian MacAusland-Berg lives on Putters Street right next to the solar farm. Despite progress being made on the fire, he wasn’t necessarily feeling better about the situation. “Not really, no. I guess it’s the uncertainty. So, one of the things is, when they talk about a mandatory shelter in place, I don’t know what that means. I don’t know if that means I can go to work, not go to work, come back, not come back so there’s questions that I have,” said MacAusland-Berg. Ron Dunne, who lives just down the street, said the fire hasn’t had a big impact on him. “I was in the military and I was a firefighter myself,” said Dunne. “I think it’s pretty safe, to be honest with you. They asked everybody to keep their windows closed and try not to go out and sit around in the air. I feel pretty safe.” Closures Classes in the Three Oaks Family of Schools are cancelled again Wednesday. The French Language School Board says École-sur-Mer is closed. Credit Union Place also remains closed until further notice. For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
