Second worker dies from Prince George explosion

Apr.25, 2012, Prince George, BC – The fire that happened at the Lakeland
sawmill late Monday evening has claimed its second victim, newspapers
report.

The Toronto Star reports that Glenn Francis Roche, 46, died in Edmonton, just hours
after being transferred to that city for treatment of critical burn. This is the second victim, after the 43-year-old shift supervisor Alan Little died Tuesday morning. At last report, nine other workers were in serious or critical condition.

Labour Minister Margaret MacDiarmid said she will “send an order out to
all the sawmills in the province asking them, telling them, instructing
them to inspect from top to bottom their mills, to make sure all steps
are being taken to address current safety policy.”

Workers at the mill describe the explosion happening suddenly and
causing walls to crumble around them, and the abundance of flammable
liquids and gases made firefighters unable to enter until the fire
burned itself out. The Fire Chief of Prince George, John Lane, said that if
it wasn't for the heroic action of employees, the death toll would have
been much higher.

According to Gordon Murray, the executive director of the Wood Pellet Association of Canada, the Lakeland mill sold its residuals to Pacific Bioenergy for wood pellet production.

For the full article, please see The Toronto Star (warning – graphic details about injuries).