The massive propane tanks are behind the school yard.
Residents living near a school in St. Laurent say they are concerned there are two massive propane tanks behind the school yard.
Each tank holds thousands of litres of propane, leaving residents near Alex-Manoogian School worried about another Lac-Megantic-type of incident because there are also train tracks nearby.
Residents believe there shouldn’t be propane tanks shouldn’t be anywhere near the train tracks.
Civil engineer Raffi Chitilian agrees.
“If something happens, it’s very dangerous,” he said. “It’s very, very dangerous this thing.”
CN operates the tracks, which border not far from the playground, and installed the propane tanks about two years ago in order to operate a de-icing system on the tracks for use in winter.
“CN is a big company. They have engineers and all the means to solve this problem. It’s a problem. I can insist it’s a problem,” said Chitilian, who said he has concerns about the tanks being exposed and close to the tracks.
Some residents feel the tanks should be moved or put underground due to concerns that if a train derails and hits the propane, the entire neighbourhood will be decimated.
CN issued a statement, saying: “These tanks are part of a switch heater, an essential piece of railway equipment necessary to maintain the safe operation of trains… The tanks are compliant to applicable federal safety regulations.”
The school’s director Sébastien Stasse said the school has been working with CN for the past two years and has adopted a security plan in case of emergency with the Montreal fire department.
“If there is an odour of propane, we have to stay in school, and call 911. This kind of measure,” he said.
He added that the trains slow down considerably in the area because they change tracks.
