Chemical fire out at Nutrien’s potash mine near Vanscoy

Nutrien says it’s still assessing the damage at its Vanscoy potash mine after a chemical fire Saturday night.

The Saskatoon Fire Department was called to the scene following a request for hazmat support. They joined emergency units from Pike Lake, Delisle and the RM of Montrose.

The fire involved storage tanks located in a building near the mine’s load-out area. As of Monday morning, small flames and a thin plume of smoke were still visible.

Aftermath of a fire that tore through the load out area at Nutrien’s Vanscoy Potash mine on March 7, 2020. (Brent Bosker/650 CKOM)

The exterior of the building was charred black from the flames that gutted the inside and breached the exterior walls.

“The fire has been extinguished and was contained on site. We are assessing the situation and developing plans to go forward,” Nutrien spokesperson Will Tigley said in a statement.

At the time of the fire, the mine was operating at half capacity and had just started back up following a three-month shutdown.

Tigley said they expect the impact on production to be minimal, adding their focus remains on the well-being of the employees and first responders managing the situation.

There is no word yet on a cause or for how long the fire will halt production.