Timeline: Explosion in downtown Wheatley, Ont.
A timeline of events leading up to an explosion that levelled a building in downtown Wheatley, Ont.
June 3 – State of emergency declared after hazmat situation in downtown Wheatley
June 4 – Ontario’s hazmat team called to state of emergency in Wheatley
June 10 – Wheatley remains under a state of emergency
June 17 – Wheatley enters second week under state of emergency
June 18 – Wheatley prepares to re-open following state of emergency
June 28 – State of Emergency lifted in Wheatley
July 19 – Downtown Wheatley evacuated again after hazardous gas detected
July 20 – Second State of Emergency declared in Wheatley
July 22 – Evacuated Wheatley residents and business owners expected to return to properties today
Aug. 4 – Province launches investigation into Wheatley gas detection
Aug. 26 - Widespread damage after Wheatley, Ont. explosion
Aug. 27 – Community reacts to Wheatley, Ont. explosion
Aug. 27 – Chatham-Kent fire chief confirms another explosion could happen in Wheatley, Ont.
Aug. 27 – Chatham-Kent officials call for action plan from province following explosion
Aug. 28 – Search for Wheatley gas leak continues
Aug. 30 – Help available for Wheatley residents affected by explosion
Aug. 31 – 'Significant movement' made in preparing to find source of Wheatley explosion
Sept. 1 – Wheatley residents create ‘Wheatley Strong’ t-shirts to aid in fundraising efforts
Sept. 1 – No guarantee and no timeline; Wheatley officials update gas explosion investigation and evacuation
Sept. 3 – Windsor law firm planning to file class action suit for those affected by Wheatley explosion
Sept. 4 - Evacuated Wheatley residents won’t be back in homes next week
Sept. 7 - Officials seek cause of Wheatley explosion as debris clean up continues
Sept. 10 - Wheatley fish fry aims to raise funds for evicted residents
Sept. 12 - 'It's what we do': Wheatley residents come out in droves to support explosion rebuild
Sept. 13 - Municipality asks Wheatley residents to 'not spread gossip on social media'
Sept. 14 - Leamington residents living near Wheatley explosion site encouraged to prepare emergency kits
Sept. 15 - 'This is a cautionary tale': Two GTA MPP’s demand action for Wheatley residents
Sept. 20 - Municipality reaches deal with province to move Wheatley explosion investigation forward
Sept. 21 - Premier Doug Ford visits Wheatley explosion area
Sept. 22 - Safety sake cited for Ford’s low-key explosion site visit
Sept. 25 - Province providing up to $2M for Wheatley following devastating explosion
Oct. 1 - Wheatley residents might be evacuated for months after explosion
Oct. 8 - Monitoring equipment detects gas at scene of previous Wheatley explosion
Nov. 1 - Chatham-Kent accepting applications for Wheatley business recovery program following explosion
Nov. 23 - Another gas release detected in evacuation zone of Wheatley explosion
Dec. 12 - Demolition of downtown Wheatley buildings near explosion site almost complete
Dec. 23 - Work in Wheatley, Ont. on pause after second well discovered
Jan. 22 - New Wheatley explosion video released
Feb. 5 - Wheatley residents face longer displacement
Feb. 7 - Wheatley crews to install vapour probes and water monitoring wells
Mar. 10 - Investigation begins into potential fourth well in Wheatley
Mar. 14 - Work to find source of gas leak continues in Wheatley
Mar. 22 - Next step in Wheatley investigation work to begin this week
Mar. 29 - Drilling to begin at evacuation site of Wheatley explosion
Mar. 30 - Relocating Wheatley’s core? A lot riding on what more drilling reveals
April 10 - Evacuation zone in Wheatley, Ont. to be reduced following August 2021 explosion
April 13 - Emotional return home for Wheatley residents
April 26 - Wheatley residents able to return to their properties have some utilities restored
May 2 - Province to provide additional $3.9 million for downtown Wheatley businesses
May 3 - Crews to plug gas well in downtown Wheatley evacuation area
May 10 - Wheatley well remediation to continue until end of June
May 20 - Evacuation zone reduced at Wheatley explosion site
May 24 - Plans underway for further investigation, road reopening in Wheatley
May 28 - Wheatley evacuation zone to be reduced as of Monday
May 31 - Wheatley emergency site reduction complete, new boundaries outlined
June 16 - Emergency response phase of Wheatley explosion to close after 294 days
July 7 - Gas release reported near former Wheatley explosion site
Aug. 2 - Crews in Wheatley resume work on pressure relief well
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.