The loud bangs caused by controlled avalanche blasts in February were a result of the use of different and more powerful charges due to an emergency situation.
Chase council and administrative staff met recently with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure officials to discuss the blasts which had frightened a number of Chase residents earlier this year.
While ministry officials did apologize for the inconvenience, confusion and fear that may have been caused by the unannounced blast, they explained that it was an emergency situation that could not be helped.
The blasting team had been working on a job in Barrier when they received a call to head to Chase to deal with a potential avalanche risk.
Avalanche technicians had been monitoring the area when they noticed that the slopes over Chase had begun to move.
The blasting team had been carrying stronger charges for their job in Barrier and switching them out would have required them to fly to Penticton before they could make their way to Chase.
Due to the severity of the situation, the blasting team went directly to Chase, and proceeded to initiate a number of charges, eliminating the possibility of an avalanche.
While the job was successful, officials say the use of stronger charges did result in a louder boom than would normally be heard in the area, and the time sensitivity of the situation did not allow them to get out early notice to residence in the area.
The ministry said it does try to work with communities whenever it can to ensure that controlled blasts cause as little inconvenience as possible to residents.
Avalanche technicians are constantly monitoring the slopes throughout British Columbia via computer, and sometimes send people up to the slopes to do testing.
Officials said that whenever possible, the ministry tries to use the natural avalanche shoots that already exist to minimize impacts on the area and be as efficient as possible. However, in some situations, they need to create their own.
By triggering smaller, controlled avalanches the ministry said it hopes to minimize the amount of time roads must be closed down in order to avert disasters.
