Friday night provided the worst of nightmares for families in Burns Lake, a massive fire and explosion at the Babine Lake Forest Products operations, sent more than half the workforce of 30 on duty to various hospitals around the province and left two members of the workforce still listed as missing by the weekends end.
The fire which lit up the night sky in the region started in the early evening, quickly spreading to many parts of the sprawling industrial area, a complex that was the key industrial employer of the region.
Emergency services were called in from as far as Vanderhoof and Smithers as fire, rescue and ambulance resources tried to cope with the overwhelming number of badly injured workers, at one point Northern Health had issued a Code Orange for the region.
Efforts were hampered by poor weather conditions as a blizzard at the time made roads east and west of the community treacherous, adding to the travel time required to get the injured to hospitals in communities along Highway 16 as far as Prince George.
The search for the two remaining missing men is on hold while authorities wait for the site to stabilize before entering into it for a rescue or recovery effort, likewise any investigation into the cause of the blast will have to wait until the area is safe to enter.
The scenes of chaos and horror that Friday night brought have been recounted by those that escaped the mill as the fire quickly spread, the account of events has been reported both in local media and across Canada, some of those reports can be found below.
Regional News items
Lakes District News-- Premier offers Burns Lake words of hope, strength and faith
Lakes District News-- 'Chaos reigned supreme' at Burns Lake mill explosion
Lakes District News-- Explosion at Babine Forest Products
Lakes District News-- Support centre opened at Margaret Patrick Memorial Hall
Lakes District News-- Babine secured
Opinion 250-- Officials wait for clearance to investigate Mill Disaster
Opinion 250-- Burns Lake Community Meeting Tonight
Opinion 250-- Our Prayers Go Out to The People of Burns Lake
Opinion 250-- Union Rallies to Assist Burns Lake Workers and their Families
Opinion 250-- Three More Burns Lake Victims Leave Hospital, Two Missing Identified
Opinion 250-- Premier Visits Burns Lake
Opinion 250-- Burns Lake Mill Site Too Unstable To Search for Missing Workers
Opinion 250-- RCMP Head Mill Investigation As Fire Victims Fight for their Lives
Opinion 250-- Worksafe Prepares to Probe Mill Remains as Residents Rally
Opinion 250-- Two Confirmed Missing in Wake of Sawmill Blast and Fire
Opinion 250-- Premier Clark Addresses Babine FP Disaster
Opinion 250-- Search Continues For Missing Mill Workers
Opinion 250-- Number of Missing Uncertain in Babine FP Blast
Opinion 250-- Six Ambulances Arrive at PG's University Hospital with Victims from Babine Forest blast
Opinion 250-- Almost 30 injured in Burns Lake Mill Blast
Opinion 250-- Burns Lake Mayor Calls for Community to Pull Together
Opinion 250-- Burns Lake Explosion... Three Believed Missing
Opinion 250-- Northern Health Mobilizes Resources to Deal With Burns Lake Disaster
Opinion 250-- Explosion Rocks Burns Lake Babine Forest Products Mill
CFTK-- Community Rallies in Aftermath of Sawmill Explosion in Burns Lake
CFTK-- Two Missing, 19 injured in Sawmill Explosion inn Burns Lake
National News Items
Vancouver Province-- Burns Lake prays for a miracle
Vancouver Province-- Repercussions to rattle region
Vancouver Province-- Burns Lake will never be the same
Vancouver Province-- Three sawmill workers in Burns Lake blast flown to Vancouver
Vancouver Province-- Burns Lake lumber mill employee claims 'nothing was done' about gas leak reports
Vancouver Province-- Son of Burns Lake elder missing in lumber mill blast
Vancouver Province-- 19 injured, 2 missing in mill fire
Vancouver Province-- Lights went out... everything went orange'
Vancouver Province-- Blast and fire at lumber mill near Burns Lake (photos)
Vancouver Sun-- Two workers missing, 19 injured after Burns Lake mill explosion (with video)
Vancouver Sun-- Mill workers heard desperate pleas of 'save us' over radio
Vancouver Sun-- Witness says Burns Lake sawmill explosion could have been prevented
Globe and Mail-- Sawmill fire tears the heart from B. C. village
Globe and Mail-- "Everything was burning" worker says after B. C. Sawmill explosion
Globe and Mail-- Town faces big loss after sawmill explosion
Globe and Mail-- Two B. C. mill workers unaccounted for
National Post-- B. C. Mill explosion near Burns Lake leaves 19 injured, many unaccounted for
CBC News-- Missing workers in B.C. mill blast ID'd
CBC News-- 2 missing after B. C. Mill explosion
Monday, January 23, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
A shot across the tracks for VIA's Skeena?
That according to a Bloomberg report posted to their website yesterday.
The report suggests that part of VIA Rail may be sold off as the government looks to cut down the cost of running the money losing passenger rail company. Among the considerations for future service is a significant reduction in service and/or the privatization of the network.
Among some of the items from the briefing note that Bloomberg accessed, one particular discussion point will be of interest to those that have travelled on the Skeena run between Jasper and Prince Rupert.
“Potential service level reductions could include: reduced frequencies on the western and eastern transcontinental service; reduced frequencies to certain remote areas; and, removing regional services in rural areas that are well served by other public modes and highways,” staff say in the note.
VIA has not expanded much on the plan as reported by Bloomberg, but one doesn't have to grab a map of Canada to figure out that the Skeena Run could be one of the lines to suffer some kind of cutback, service reduction or out right elimination.
Vancouver Sun-- Feds mull VIA sell off
CBC-- VIA Rail said to be partially up for sale
Maclean's-- Ottawa may privatize part of VIA Rail
CTV-- Officials suggest slashing VIA Rail service, partial sale
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Cold snap settles in on North coast
Good for tobogganing, not so much for driving, household and commercial pipes and your heating bills.
A January cold snap took hold of the North coast and points inland this week, bringing temperatures down to the -20 regions, with daytime highs on a few occasions of no more than -14.
A dump of snow over the weekend previous gave locals a chance to recapture their shovelling skills and re-learn some winter driving skills that were challenged by road conditions that at times had the RCMP closing down a portion of McBride on Friday owing to the combination of snow and slick road conditions.
As the week moved forward the now gave way to very cold temperatures, which left plumbers around town quite busy and no doubt counting the cash in a rapid fashion.
The Arctic outflows began to ebb away by Thursday, with more normal temperature ranges anticipated by Monday morning.
Some reviews of the cold temperatures can be found below
CJFW-- Another Dangerously Cold Morning Across the Northwest
CBC Northern BC-- Northern B. C. gets a cold snap
CFTK TV 7-- Bitter Cold Grips Northwest
CFTK TV 7-- Deep Freeze
CFTK TV7-- Highway Complaints
A January cold snap took hold of the North coast and points inland this week, bringing temperatures down to the -20 regions, with daytime highs on a few occasions of no more than -14.
A dump of snow over the weekend previous gave locals a chance to recapture their shovelling skills and re-learn some winter driving skills that were challenged by road conditions that at times had the RCMP closing down a portion of McBride on Friday owing to the combination of snow and slick road conditions.
As the week moved forward the now gave way to very cold temperatures, which left plumbers around town quite busy and no doubt counting the cash in a rapid fashion.
The Arctic outflows began to ebb away by Thursday, with more normal temperature ranges anticipated by Monday morning.
Some reviews of the cold temperatures can be found below
CJFW-- Another Dangerously Cold Morning Across the Northwest
CBC Northern BC-- Northern B. C. gets a cold snap
CFTK TV 7-- Bitter Cold Grips Northwest
CFTK TV 7-- Deep Freeze
CFTK TV7-- Highway Complaints
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
RCMP investigate east side robbery
Prince Rupert RCMP are seeking the assistance of the public regarding a robbery at Maverick Food Mart on Monday evening.
The 11th Avenue East store was held up by a balaclava clad suspect at 10pm, brandishing a knife he demanded cash from the till and fled on foot.
RCMP members responded to the call and conducted a search of the immediate area but were unable to locate the suspect.
The suspect was completely dressed in black at the time of the armed robbery and escaped with an undetermined amount of money, should anyone have information on this crime they are asked to contact the RCMP at 250-627-0700
The Northern View relayed details from the Prince Rupert Detachment of the RCMP with this post to their website.
CFTK TV 7-- Maverick Foods Robbery
The 11th Avenue East store was held up by a balaclava clad suspect at 10pm, brandishing a knife he demanded cash from the till and fled on foot.
RCMP members responded to the call and conducted a search of the immediate area but were unable to locate the suspect.
The suspect was completely dressed in black at the time of the armed robbery and escaped with an undetermined amount of money, should anyone have information on this crime they are asked to contact the RCMP at 250-627-0700
The Northern View relayed details from the Prince Rupert Detachment of the RCMP with this post to their website.
CFTK TV 7-- Maverick Foods Robbery
West Jet considers expansion plans
The next few months could determine if Prince Rupert gains more competition in the airline industry as West Jet continues on with its plans to develop a regional airline service.
Prince Rupert was first mentioned as a possible destination last year when West Jet first floated the idea of a service to stream traffic to its fleet of 737's to larger markets, Monday provided a bit more background on the airlines plans and the timeline they are looking at.
Vancouver Sun-- West Jet eyes starting new regional airline
Canadian Business-- West Jet considering launching short haul regional airline as early as 2013
National Post-- West Jet considers launching short haul airline
Globe and Mail-- West Jet plan a new threat to Air Canada
Prince Rupert was first mentioned as a possible destination last year when West Jet first floated the idea of a service to stream traffic to its fleet of 737's to larger markets, Monday provided a bit more background on the airlines plans and the timeline they are looking at.
Vancouver Sun-- West Jet eyes starting new regional airline
Canadian Business-- West Jet considering launching short haul regional airline as early as 2013
National Post-- West Jet considers launching short haul airline
Globe and Mail-- West Jet plan a new threat to Air Canada
Increased shipping through Prince Rupert benefits Prince George
With throughput at the Port of Prince Rupert's container port continuing to grow, the benefits are being felt eight hours to the east in Prince George which just completed expansion of a container handling yard in that city.
With track extensions and an improved lumber capacity, the Prince George yard now can handle up to 700 containers a week, up from 30 just a year ago, along with that expansion the workforce in Prince George at the CN yard has grown as well, with 15 new employees hired on making a total of 47 employed at the yard.
Prince George HQ-- CN intermodal Expansion complete
With track extensions and an improved lumber capacity, the Prince George yard now can handle up to 700 containers a week, up from 30 just a year ago, along with that expansion the workforce in Prince George at the CN yard has grown as well, with 15 new employees hired on making a total of 47 employed at the yard.
Prince George HQ-- CN intermodal Expansion complete
Former PRMHA player recognized at US college level
An alumnus of the Prince Rupert Minor Hockey program, Frank Slubowski, has been recognized US College Hockey,
Slubowski who plays in the CCHA, was recognized for his work over the weekend after his Western Michigan University Broncos team swept the famed Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
WMU website-- Brown and Slubowski win CCHA Weekly Honors
Slubowski who plays in the CCHA, was recognized for his work over the weekend after his Western Michigan University Broncos team swept the famed Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
WMU website-- Brown and Slubowski win CCHA Weekly Honors
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