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Fernie Alpine Resort’s Shredfest - Page 14 SPORTS
Jaffray local takes home gold - Page 19 ARTS
Cousins Bianca Ramsay, 3, and Cash Anderson, 2, showed up at Fernie Alpine Resort for the Griz Kidz Easter Scavenger Hunt on Sunday, April 5. For more photos and the full story turn to page 13. Photo by S. Kucharski
Explosion at Greenhills mine sends three to hospital Canadian photo mosaic - Page 17
BUSINESS
Fernie Childcare Society - Page 4
By Sarah Kucharski Free Press Staff
O
n Sunday, April 5 an explosion at Greenhills mine near Elkford sent three people to hospital with second- and thirddegree burns. The explosion occurred Sunday morning at approximately 11 a.m. with STARS being dispatched to the scene at 11:26 a.m. According to David Haslam, Communications Coordinator with the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the explosion happened in the coal
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drying operation of the mine. The employees were not believed to be inside at the time, but were located outside of the room at the time of the blast, described by Haslam as a “flash fire.” Spokesperson for B.C. Ambulance Libby Brown said the three injured, two men and one woman, were initially being treated for secondand third-degree burns. One of the injured parties was sent to Fernie Hospital for treatment and discharged that day, while the other two patients were transferred to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary.
Interior Health spokesperson Michaela Swan said that the two transferred to Foothills were in “serious but stable condition.” Haslam said that Chief Inspector of Mines Al Hoffman is currently investigating the incident. “We will provide more information as it becomes available.” Teck stated that the flash fire did not majorly impact the mining operation. The cause of the explosion is not yet known. Sparwood Mayor Cal MacDougall said, “Teck has been handling
the situation very quickly and efficiently. As far as the cause is concerned, it is being investigated and we’re hoping to find the cause before too long.” The Teck-owned mine is eight kilometres northeast of Elkford. A previous explosion at Greenhills in June 2010 resulted in four employees being treated for smoke inhalation. The source of the 2010 incident was a dryer exploding and causing extensive damage to the building, which resulted in the temporary closure of the operation.