Selkirk evacuates, closes buildings after acetylene tank explosions

Selkirk College closed several buildings on its Silver King campus on Friday after two acetylene gas tanks exploded outside the North Trades Building on Thursday. A nearby resident reported “two huge explosions” at the Rosemont campus and the Nelson Fire and Rescue Services—which extinguished the blaze—reported seeing heavy black smoke and fire at the scene. The Castlegar Source reports that Nelson Fire and Rescue and WorkSafeBC are completing investigations of the incident. No injuries related to the explosions were reported.