A Pontiac resident has been identified as being among the victims of a devastating explosion and fire at Eastway Tank Pump and Meter Ltd. on January 13, 2022, where six people are confirmed to have died. A seventh person was hospitalized in critical condition. Ottawa police responded to a request for information on Friday, stating that they were awaiting confirmation of . . .

identity from the coroner before releasing names of the victims. Notification would be made directly with the families.

Police procedure is designed to protect the privacy of victims and their families, and a spokesperson confirmed “it is up to the families if they want to release this information to the public.” However, the facebook page for Rick Bastien, a Luskville resident, has been filled with tributes since he failed to return home from work on the night of the explosion. Bastien is described as a welder/fabricator/mechanic at Eastway Tank.

According to the CBC, Rick Bastien’s son, Josh Bastien, had been an employee at the Eastway plant for several years, but left in 2021 citing unsafe working conditions. He had seen firsthand the potential for disaster, describing a ‘serious’ fire that caused him to rethink his tenure at the plant. His father, a senior employee, had remained at Eastway, but is reported to have complained often about unsafe working conditions. A statement by Neil Greene, the president and owner of Eastway Tank Pump and Meter, affirmed the company “will cooperate with authorities on all ensuing investigations.”

Multiple investigations into the cause of the explosion are underway, but will take time. Several agencies are conducting investigations, including the Ottawa Police Service, Ontario Fire Marshal, Ministry of Labour, the Office of the Chief Coroner/Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, and Technical Standards and Safety Authority.

The explosion happened on Thursday afternoon – calls were being made to emergency services around 1:30 p.m. and the fire department fought hard to contain the blaze, impeded by live electrical lines and propane tanks located nearby. The fire took several hours to bring under control.

It is the worst industrial accident in Ottawa in over 50 years. Bodies were still being recovered several days after the blast. Recovery efforts were hampered by the risk of flare-ups, the possible presence of asbestos in the ruined building, chemicals onsite, and the danger posed to emergency personnel as they enter a building at risk of structural collapse.

Deputy Fire Marshall Tim Beckett confirmed it is “too early in the investigation to report any information surrounding the cause of this event.” The Ottawa Police Service will be “moving as carefully and quickly as possible to provide meticulous investigative evidence.” They have appealed for anyone with information that can help their investigation to contact the Ottawa Police Service West Criminal Investigations Section at (613) 236 1222 extension 2666.

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