RESCUE: Quick-thinking bystanders save elderly pair from water A3 Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Men’s soccer kicked off another season in Prince George A9
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www.pgfreepress.com ■ INVESTIGATIONS
WorkSafeBC checking explosion links DELYNDA PILON newsroom@pgfreepress.com
Parallels between the Babine Sawmill fire and the Lakeland Mills explosion prompted WorkSafeBC to share similarities investigators pinpointed between the incidents with industry leaders and the public Monday. The last update on the Babine fire, given May 2 shortly after the Lakeland explosion, contained few comparisons since investigators had just got on the ground at Lakeland. By Friday, however, investigators noted the likely source of ignition during both events was the same. “Today we directed employers’ attention to similarities that have been observed during the course of both investigations,” Jeff Dolan, WorkSafeBC director of investigations, said. “They may be coincidental but certainly cannot be ignored. We stress they are observations, not final conclusions.” He said the likely source of ignition at both Babine and Lakeland was located at the conveyor level where electrical and/or
mechanical equipment was in operation in areas contained by walls and equipment. These areas are in the lower levels or basement in both mills. At the same time, investigators have concluded that five key elements must be in place for an explosion to occur: fuel, ignition, oxygen, dispersement and containment. A fire, on the other hand, requires fuel, ignition and oxygen. It explodes when it becomes contained. In both cases ,when investigators went into explosions sites they were completely destroyed, but with the help of eyewitnesses and architectural designs, they were able to determine the fires occurred in a contained area. In Babine one area, believed to be the ignition source, was 50’ by 50’, but Dolan said WorkSafeBC does not want to limit employers as they consider the size or make-up of an enclosed space. Though it may be enclosed by hard surfaces with four walls and a floor, it’s not necessarily airtight. Instead of walls large pieces of equipment may be creating the
containment. Both ignition areas were lower in the mill and there may have been a settling fuel source.
With Babine, possible fuel sources investigators are looking at include natural gas, propane and sawdust. At Lakeland nothing
is being ruled out as of yet. The similarity in the source of ignition was discovered this Friday,
Roberta Ellis, vice president of corporate services, said. Staff worked through
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HOW MANY YEARS?
A lla n W ISHA RT/ Fre e Pre s s
Many of those not on the track Saturday afternoon at the Relay for Life took part in the flyover event, spelling out the anniversary number for the Prince George event, a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. Thanks to Yellowhead Helicopter for supplying the flight.
Missing local man named in Alberta sex charges A man who has long been listed as a missing person in Prince George had his name resurface last week when Vermillion RCMP laid four sex-related criminal charges against him. A fire destroyed Northern Thunderbirds air hanger on Dec. 18, 2009, and left experts, including a forensic anthro-
pologist, combing through cups of ashes only to determine no person died in the blaze. Not even Vernon Michael Martin, who owned the building along with family members. The hanger was leased out though Martin kept an office inside, and on Dec. 18 his pick-up was parked out-
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side. Though no human remains were found Martin was never found either, and since that winter day he has been listed as a missing person. The cause of the blaze was never determined. Now his name has resurfaced with
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these charges. Two victims who were young men at the time of the alleged events spoke with officers in Vermillion. One set of charges span the period of Jan. 1, 1979 until Dec. 31, 1982. The second set continue from Jan 1, 1982 until Dec. 31, 1987.
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