One fireman confirmed dead in Toronto explosion and fire

A veteran Toronto fireman has died, although it's not clear yet what caused his death. No other reported casualties, fortunately, although an employee of the propane facility is still not accounted for. More details:

Although one person believed to be an employee of the propane plant was unaccounted for and a firefighter died after he was found near the scene without vital signs, officials said the city's residents "got off very lucky."

While the blaze continued to burn into the evening officials declared it "under control." The serious threat posed by propane and the possibility of further explosions saw a voluntary evacuation order upheld for the northwest Toronto neighbourhood that's home to some 12,500 people.

Taken first to a military base and then to York University, traumatized residents - some who fled in their pyjamas - faced an uncertain night waiting for the OK to return home.

One by one, witnesses recalled the booming noise and acrid charcoal smell of the blast at Sunrise Propane Industrial Gases that shook surrounding buildings shortly before 4 a.m. and was heard seven kilometres away.

"It was just a tremendous explosion and blew all the windows out of the house, just blew the house up, and I just managed to get out of there in time," said Robert Halman, who was covered in cuts and bruises as he fled his home.

I'm not sure how "voluntary" the "voluntary evacuation order" is . . . when my family was evacuated in 1979 during the Mississauga train derailment, there was no voluntary component.