TAY VALLEY TOWNSHIP – A family camping trip ended in tragedy following an explosion that injured three people on Saturday (July 4).

“Officers from the Lanark County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to assist The Bathurst, Burgess, Drummond-North Elmsley Fire Department just before 10:30 p.m. on July 4,” media relations officer Const. Lori Lobinowich released in a statement yesterday (July 5). “The incident occurred at a campground on Christie Lake North Shore Road just outside of Perth and was reported as the explosion of a buried, propane cylinder at a campfire.”

Officers attended along with Lanark County Paramedics and Ornge Air Ambulance transportation. Three individuals, including a seven-year-old child with serious burns were transported to hospital for treatment. 

The Office of the Fire Marshall was contacted and the investigation into the cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-888-310-1122 or Lanark County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).