Speedway International faces charges in $15M blaze

The owner of a St. Bonifacefuel plant is facing multiple charges after a massive St. Boniface blaze sent fireballs into the sky and forced the evacuation of entire neighbourhoods last year.

The blaze broke out on Oct. 1, 2012, at Speedway International Inc., which manufactures racing fuel.

Flames and thick black smoke could be seen for kilometresaround the plant, and people living nearby were forced to flee their homes.

It took fire crews several hours tobring the blaze under control, and residents could not return to their homes until the following day.

A strong chemical smell was present in the area for days after the blast, and sooty debris could be seen on a number of buildings and streets.

No one was injured in the blaze, but it caused $15 million in damage. It damaged nearby rail cars, vehicles and tanker trucks.

Fire officials later determined that the blaze was caused by the spontaneous combustion of an oily substance.

Now, Speedway International and its director, Royce Rostecki, are facing eight charges each.

Six of the charges fall under the City of Winnipeg's building bylaw, and 10 of the charges fall under the citys fire-prevention bylaw.

The charges related to the storage of flammable liquids and building occupancy infractions.

Rostecki has never commented publicly about the blaze. Instead, heissued a statement through a public relations company days after fire, stating, "Speedway International went through all the permitting processes that it understood were required."

Speedway was granted an occupancy permit for a windshield wiper fluid manufacturing plant in 2000, and a fire inspection was done at the St. Boniface facility the following year, according to the company.

"Owners of Speedway International have never been informed about a requirement for a fire safety plan either verbally or in writing," the statement also said.

Deena Caplette, who owns the Kid City indoor play centre near the Speedway International site, said she wasn't surprised to hear that charges have been laid in connection with the fire.

"There was speculation at the beginning, so [I] knew that it could have been a possibility, and I guess that's for him to worry about as a business owner," she said.

The case will be heard in bylaw court on June 27.

If found guilty, Speedway International would face a total maximum fine of $40,000, while Rostecki would face up to $8,000.