Propane-leaking Zamboni set off chain reaction blast in Alberta arena: officials

TABER, ALBERTA, CANADA — Officials in the southern Alberta town of Taber say it was a leaky Zamboni that set off a chain reaction fireball blast inside one of the hockey-loving community’s only ice rinks.

But they say thanks to the support of surrounding communities, the game goes on.

Officials announced Wednesday that a propane leak from the ice resurfacer created a gas cloud on Dec. 17. That cloud was eventually ignited by a nearby electric heater, creating a fireball that shattered glass around the ice rinks, damaged the roof, toppled concrete walls and bricks, and hit gas lines.

Security footage of the blast shows the community centre’s large garage door torn from its hinges and flying forward as the ball of flame exits the building.

Town spokeswoman Meghan Brennan said more than dozen people were inside at the time of explosion, mostly in change rooms.

She said a winter storm day delayed them from getting on the ice and no one was harmed.

“There was nobody on the ice surface and that really came down to kind of a Christmas miracle. We got incredibly lucky,” said Brennan.

Brennan said “the big boom” made the centre’s ground shake. Those inside thought a train derailed on the tracks just outside the centre until they evacuated the change rooms and they saw the damage on their way out, Brennan said.

Taber fire chief Steve Munshaw said there is no timeline on when inspections will be complete, and when crews can begin cleaning up the debris the blast left behind.

He said the town has also heard back from the manufacturers of the Zamboni. They have been told that the propane leak is not common.

Brennan said that since the blast and community centre’s closure, locals have been flooded with messages from people asking what they can do to help.

“Within 24 hours of this incident happening, we had communities reaching out to our ice-user groups and to the municipality, saying, ‘We’ve cancelled our public skating’ or, ‘We’ve opened up ice time, come to our community,'” she said.

Brennan said some Taber sport leagues, including the Minor Hockey Association, have happily accepted those invitations. “Our kids deserve to play and they want to play.”

Taber Mayor Andrew Prokop said, along with the help, there have been messages of support from across the country.

“That generosity has meant a great deal to not only to the municipality, but to the community as a whole,” he said.

Brennan said the community centre and its arenas were built in 1970 after the town’s first rink burned down. Almost every weekend since, events have been held in its rooms. Locals have been gathering to enjoy sports such as hockey, lacrosse, curling and figure skating on its rinks.

“There isn’t a community event that isn’t held there. There isn’t a sport that you can’t enjoy there,” Brennan said.

“It’s the heartbeat of Taber.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2025.

—By Fakiha Baig in Edmonton