Black smoke visible in Edmonton caused by 'unit upset' at Strathcona Refinery: company

Officials at a refinery on the outskirts of Edmonton say a big flame and thick smoke coming from the facility "is no concern for the community."
The plume started because of an "a unit upset" at approximately 3:10 pm Monday, prompting a flood of 911 calls.
"We are aware of the situation and have been informed that it is a generator issue. Thank you for your diligence in reporting!" Edmonton Fire Rescue Services tweeted at 3:39 p.m.
A spokesperson for Strathcona Refinery on 101 Avenue/ Baseline Road and 34 Street said environmental monitoring was taking place.
"Neighbours and the community will be seeing a large flare and black smoke from Strathcona Refinery. We are in the midst of restarting but flaring and smoke are expected for the next several hours," Keri Scobie wrote in an email.
"For competitive reasons, we don’t discuss details of specific units."
A large flare at the Strathcona Refinery on the outskirts of Edmonton on January 30, 2023. (John Hanson/CTV News Edmonton)
A large flare at the Strathcona Refinery on the outskirts of Edmonton on January 30, 2023. (John Hanson/CTV News Edmonton)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Budget 2023 prioritizes pocketbook help and clean economy, deficit projected at $40.1B
In the 2023 federal budget, the government is unveiling continued deficit spending targeted at Canadians' pocketbooks, public health care and the clean economy.

BREAKING | Budget 2023 proposes across-the-board 3 per cent spending cut for government departments
The federal budget proposes an across-the-board three per cent spending cut for all departments and agencies, a belt-tightening move after years of massive growth in the federal public service.
Federal government capping excise tax on alcohol after outcry
The increase in excise duties on all alcoholic products is being temporarily capped at two per cent starting next month instead of a planned six per cent increase.
Projected cost of federal dental program set to more than double: Budget 2023
The federal budget shows the government's proposed dental-care insurance program will cost more than double what the Liberals originally thought, driving it up by another $7.3 billion over five years.
Could Canada soon standardize USB chargers? Feds looking into it, budget says
Tucked into the 2023 federal budget unveiled on Tuesday in Ottawa, the Liberals have announced plans to explore implementing a standard charging port across Canada, in an effort to save Canadians some money and reduce waste.
Liberals add foreign interference office, new money-laundering rules in latest budget
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government plans to launch a National Counter-Foreign Interference Office, amid ongoing scrutiny of allegations that Beijing interfered in recent federal elections.
opinion | The gun control debate in America has been silenced
In the wake of another deadly mass shooting in America, that saw children as young as nine years old shot and killed, the gun control debate is going nowhere, writes CTV News political analyst Eric Ham.
Young children, the head of their school and its custodian. These are the victims of the Nashville school shooting
Another American community is reeling after a shooter killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville. These are the three children and three adults whose lives were taken by the shooter.
Nashville police release chilling security camera footage of suspected school shooter
Nashville police have released security camera footage of a suspected shooter entering the private Christian elementary school. The shooting claimed the lives of three children, all aged nine, and three adults.