The Town of Taber's investigation confirmed a Dec. 17 explosion in its arena was caused by a fuel problem with a Zamboni and not of human error.

The town placed the following statement dated Jan. 7 on it’s website referring to the recent incident at the municipal arena contained within the community centre: “The investigation has confirmed that the incident was not caused by human error.

“The explosion was caused by a failure of a component within the fuel system of the ice resurfacer (Zamboni). There was no procedural failure, and staff followed established operating procedures.

“The fuel system failure resulted in a propane leak, which created a gas cloud within the surfacer room and across the small ice surface. An electric heater in the area was identified as the source of ignition, which caused the explosion. While no one was injured, the town recognizes that this was a serious incident that could have had very serious consequences. Emergency procedures were followed, and staff response helped ensure the situation was managed safely.”

The municipal statement also commended town staff for their handling of the explosion. “Town Staff responded professionally during a stressful and potentially dangerous situation, helping to ensure that no one was injured,” noted the Town of Taber. “In the days that followed, staff were displaced from their regular workspaces and had to adapt quickly to changing conditions and uncertainty. Despite these challenges, staff continued to support Town operations, with other departments stepping in to provide space and assistance where needed.

“In the weeks following the incident, there was public speculation about the cause, including assumptions that staff were at fault. The investigation has confirmed that those assumptions were not supported by the facts. The Town wants to be clear that our staff acted appropriately and professionally throughout.

The town stated the community centre, which houses the arena, suffered damage from the blast and remains closed as experts examine the after-effects of the explosion. “Areas cannot reopen until environmental safety and critical systems are confirmed to be safe and operational,” stated the town.

Taber Fire Chief Steve Munshaw observed that preparation is key in situations like this one. “Even when procedures are followed and there is no human error, incidents like this are an important reminder of why strong maintenance programs and emergency preparedness matter,” stated the fire chief. “Our teams train for these situations, and that preparedness helped ensure the incident was managed safely. We were fortunate no one was injured, and we take that as reinforcement of the importance of ongoing readiness, not as a reason to be complacent.”

The town noted no damage estimate is currently available while its working with its insurance company on the issue.