Chaos ruled supreme at Burns Lake mill explosion
Published: January 21, 2012
At approximately 8 p.m. on Jan. 20 2012, a large explosion and fire occurred at Babine Forest Products sawmill, East of Burns Lake.
Media from across the province gathered at the Village of Burns Lake’s council chambers Saturday to hear details after the Babine Forest Products explosion and fire that destroyed the sawmill late Friday.
Jim McBride, fire chief for the Burns Lake Fire and Rescue Department, gave a stark assessment.
“I have never seen the devastation that I witnessed last night. When I arrived, the mill was completely engulfed in flames. It was devastation … chaos reigned supreme.”
Chief Gerow added, “I spent the evening at the hospital and I can tell you they were working under incredible odds. There was 19 injured arriving at the hospital within four hours. They were all triaged locally and sent to Prince George, then assessed and sent on to other hospitals. There was also a foot of snow that fell in Burns Lake last night and the airport could not be used to airlift patients due to the weather. With limited resources, everyone did and incredible job and I salute their efforts.”
Second body found in Babine mill fire
Published: January 23, 2012
The BC Coroners Service has confirmed that a second individual has been found dead in the debris of the Babine Forest Products sawmill, leveled by an explosion and fire Jan. 20.
Kenny Michell making good progress
Published: March 28, 2012
Theresa Michell said to Lakes District News that she is thankful her husband Kenny Michell is alive and well.
Kenny, 54, who was badly injured in the Babine Forest Products explosion and fire approximately two months ago, was airlifted to a specialized burn unit at Vancouver General Hospital in critical condition, however Theresa said he is now starting to make some progress in his recovery.
She said to Lakes District News that Kenny is up on his feet using a walker with the help of doctors, for the first time since the accident.
“Kenny cannot walk on his own yet and is hardly moving his arms as he got skin grafts on both arms and his back,” she said.
Michell, 54, suffered severe burns to his head, neck, back and arms in the Jan. 20, 2012 disaster. He is the only patient still hospitalized, of the 19 injured Babine Forest Products workers.
Theresa also expressed her gratitude to the Lakes District Hospital and all the volunteers that helped out on the night of the tragedy.
“We also appreciate all the prayers and love that everyone has been sending us during Kenny’s healing journey and we hope to be back home soon,” she said.
As reported in the Lakes District News edition of Feb. 29, 2012, sawmill worker Derek MacDonald returned home from the Vancouver General Hospital late last month. John Bertacco, Lake Babine Nation councillor said to Lakes District News that while MacDonald is back home in Burns Lake, he is still receiving treatment for his extensive burns.
Support centre opened at Margaret Patrick Memorial Hall
Published: January 21, 2012
Family, friends and concerned community members have been flooding into Lake Babine Nation’s Margaret Patrick Memorial Hall since news of the Babine Forest Products mill explosion.
Lake Babine Nation Chief Wilf Adam said to Lakes District News the Margaret Patrick Hall will remain open until things have calmed down.
“The hall has been open since 9 p.m. last night and we have grief councillors on hand. Our members are also helping each other get through this sad time,” Chief Adam said.
According to Chief Adam, once the fire stops burning at the mill, the search will continue for two missing men.
He said, “One of the employees is Stellat’en but lives at the Wet’suwet’en village and the other, Carl Charlie is from Lake Babine Nation.
“We do not want to say anything other than they are missing … they are just missing,” said Chief Adam.
Meteorite, or meteor-wrong?
Published: March 21, 2012
A Burns Lake man thinks he has possibly found three meteorite craters and is pushing for a geologist to come to Burns Lake to solve the mystery.
Joseph Driscol said to Lakes District News that he has been trying to get the
word out to any level of government for well over a year, expecting that if the meteorite craters are confirmed, Burns Lake could become a tourist mecca for meteorite and rock hounds.
While Driscol thinks what he has found could be meteorite craters, he said the help of a geologist is needed to prove it.
Perry Sebastian missing
Published January 11, 2012
At approximately 10 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2012, the Burns Lake RCMP detachment received a report of a missing adult male.
Perry Sebastian, Jr., also known as PJ, 28 years old of Hagwilget, B.C., was reportedly last seen during the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 2011, near Southbank.
Rio Tinto Alcan returns Cheslatta Carrier Nation’s traditional territory
Published: February 08, 2012
Last Monday, Rio Tinto Alcan officially completed the transfer of approximately 11,000 acres of land, with an assessed value of $1.2 million, to the Cheslatta Carrier Nation.
The land transfer was made official in a ceremony held at the Grassy Plains Community Hall.
During the ceremony, Cheslatta member, Abel Peters, aged 89, handed over six vintage Canadian dollar bills to Paul Henning vice president of strategic projects for Rio Tinto Alcan, as full payment for the land.
According to Cheslatta Carrier Nation’s Chief Richard Peters, the terms of the 2012 land transaction are much more favourable now, than 60 years ago when, in 1952, 29 year old Abel Peters translated the terms of surrender of the land to the Cheslatta people.
Former Cheslatta Carrier Nation Chief Corrina Leween said, “For many years we struggled to keep the land issue alive and on the table. The spirit of my ancestors and the sorrow and grief that they carried all of their lives, inspired us to never give up on their dream, to once again own our homelands outright. Today we shed tears of pride and joy.”
