Explosion at Port of Saguenay Sends Shockwaves Through Emergency Crews
So let me walk you through what happened at the Port of Saguenay, because this incident has really shaken the community and especially the firefighters who were right in the middle of it.
On Tuesday afternoon, around 4 p.m., an explosion ripped through one of the massive domes used to store wood pellets at the port. These domes belong to Granule 777, a company that ships wood pellets to Europe, and earlier that day firefighters had already been called in around 1:30 p.m. to deal with a fire smoldering inside. According to officials, no one was injured, but the blast itself was powerful enough to send chunks of concrete and pellets flying over a distance of nearly 200 feet. The damage was described as strictly material, but the emotional aftermath has been anything but simple.
Several firefighters from Saguenay were on-site when the explosion occurred, and seven of them were directly hit by falling debris. The Service de sécurité incendie described the event as “marquant,” the kind of incident that stays with you. Even though all of them were able to return to work the next morning, psychological support was put in place as soon as they got back to the station. An immediate debrief and mental-health check-in were carried out by a specialized team, and that quick intervention seems to have helped them regroup.
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But despite the lack of warning signs, the investigation into how this explosion unfolded has already begun. Fire officials said that everything appeared stable before the blast—“all indicators were green”—which makes the sudden detonation even more puzzling. The engineer who designed the installation is now heading to Saguenay to evaluate the structural damage and help determine what exactly triggered the event.
Right now, the port has halted all activities for an undetermined period. A tight security perimeter has been established around the domes, and crews are still working cautiously because the fire inside the structure, while under control, is still burning. Wood pellets are compacted and can smolder for long periods, so extinguishing them isn’t always straightforward.
Veteran firefighters have pointed out that domes and silos carry unique risks. Volatile gases can build up inside these structures, and a single spark can create the perfect recipe for an explosion. One retired firefighter even shared that events like this can leave long-lasting psychological marks—nightmares, flashbacks, the whole weight of a moment you simply can’t prepare for.
For now, Granule 777 has confirmed that monitoring measures are underway to prevent any secondary incidents. Thermal surveillance and checks on the integrity of the dome are ongoing. And while there’s relief that no one was physically hurt, the emotional toll on those who responded—and the uncertainty surrounding what caused the blast—are still very present.
This story is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: even in a profession built on unpredictability, this explosion struck a nerve that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
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