UrbanToronto Industry Updates: From the archives, the Maple propane explosion

Urbantoronto.ca
June 1, 2022

On Aug. 4, 1962, a massive explosion at Superior Propane Ltd. rocked the village of Maple, killing one man and injuring others. Herbert Joslin, who worked for the company as a stock clerk, had made a heroic attempt to stop gas from escaping from a tank truck in the storage yard, but was unable to do so before the  explosion occurred. Sadly, he lost his life in the process.

The three remaining tanks left standing in the yard could have blown at any time, and, as a result, were left to burn out as a precaution. Maple Fire and Police Chief James Davidson said, “There is still a lot of danger and all we can do is sit and wait for them to burn out or blow up.” Officials feared that if another tank exploded, the damage would be even greater because the already devastated houses in the area would not be able to provide a cushion from another shock wave.

Following the explosion, police blocked off all entrances in the danger zone and no one was allowed in except fire officials. The investigators determined that the first blast originated in the north-east section of the plant where a railway car had been unloaded, and another was waiting to be off-loaded.

The original blast destroyed the $250,000 Superior Propane plant, as well as six neighbouring homes and additional homes were deemed unfit to live in. The explosion also forced the evacuation of approximately 25 more homes due to the fires, with the total cost of the damages exceeding $500,000.

Following the explosion, Vaughan Township Council sent a committee to every home that had been damaged by the explosion. Reeve (Mayor) Albert Rutherford said that once the extent of the damage had been determined, they would decide what was needed to help those who had been left homeless. During the Council meeting following the blast, Council decided that they would allow Superior Propane to rebuild in Maple. They also requested a moment of silence for Herbert Joslin who was “a good friend and member of the community who gave his life for the municipality.”