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Victims removed from Fernie arena; residents remain evacuated

Oct 20, 2017 | 6:23 AM

FERNIE, B.C. – All of the victims have been removed from Fernie Memorial Arena after this week’s deadly ammonia leak.

Two city employees and a contractor were killed Tuesday, Oct. 17 after a leak from the refrigeration unit. Crews moved in Wednesday night after ventilation efforts throughout the day made it possible to begin recovery.

“Something went terribly wrong.”

 

– Norm McInnis, chief administrative officer, City of Fernie

Fire Chief Ted Ruiter says response teams decided to change their route in to the main entrance instead of the rear of the facilty to avoid any risk to personnel. He explains a trial run was completed prior to the actual recovery to ensure there were no barriers or restraints to hamper efforts.

Ruiter says the scene was handed over to RCMP after the successful operation.

Sgt. Trevor Tribes says they are preparing for the scene examination. Tribes says they will continue to investigate until they can determine whether or not any criminality was involved in the incident.

A major focus of the overall investigation is determining a timeline of the tragedy. Officials say an alarm went off at 4 a.m. at the arena, resulting in the contractor being called to the facility and it being closed for the morning. A 911 call was made at 12:56 p.m.

City chief administrative officer Norm McInnis says between those times something went terribly wrong. But they don’t know what.

A local state of emergency and evacuation order for the surrounding area remain in effect. Chief Ruiter says getting evacuated residents back into their homes remains their top priority. However, they want to make sure they return safely.

The first step, Ruiter says, is getting an idea of what they are dealing with inside the facility.

McInnis says when the RCMP complete their investigation the matter will be handed over to WorksafeBC who the City will work with closely.

The City Manager notes they have set up an emergency family assistance program and Friday will see all city operations shut down to allow staff and family some time to process, grieve and start to heal.

Victim identified

One of the three men who died following an ammonia leak at an ice rink in southeastern British Columbia has been identified as Lloyd Smith, an off-duty part time paramedic.

BC Emergency Health Services said in a statement Thursday that Smith, who began his career as a paramedic with the agency in 1996, was working “at his other job with the City of Fernie when he died.”

The agency says Smith worked in the East Kootenay area for more than 15 years.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper’s wife, Laureen, tweeted Thursday night that Smith was a childhood friend who taught her how to drive a Zamboni ice-clearing machine at a rink in High River, Alta.