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
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
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.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.