Prince George, B.C. – Fourteen of the nineteen workers injured in Friday night’s explosion that levelled a sawmill  just east of Burns Lake remain hospitalized this morning. Two of their fellow employees at Hampton Affiliates’ Babine Forest Products mill are still missing as investigators wait to begin their probe of the disaster.

An explosion rocked the sawmill at the site around 8:15 Friday night. There were 25 employees on the job at the time, far fewer than the workforce on day shift. The sawmill/planer operation employs 250 people. Initial reports indicate some of the day shift workers reported a strong smell of gas which continued to foul the air right up to the time of the explosion. Both natural gas and propane were present at the mill.

Steve Raper with Northern Health says three of the most critically injured are being treated in the burn unit of University Hospital of Alberta in Edmonton. Two more are in the VGH burn unit in Vancouver. Of the eight workers transported to University Hospital in Prince George, 7 remain under care. One of two being treated in Smithers has been released while the other is now hospitalized in Victoria. And one further person is being treated at St. John Hospital in Vanderhoof.

Lake Babine Nation Chief Wilf Adam has identified one of the two missing workers as Carl Charlie of the Lake Babine Nation. The other man, says Adam, is Stellat’en but living at the Wet’suwet’en village. That person is said to be related to a high ranking Native leader in the Central Interior however that has not been confirmed at this point.

Meantime, Burns Lake Fire Chief Jim McBride says based on the evidence to date, the RCMP are maintaining control of the investigation. Investigators are having to wait for the rubble to cool down before beginning their probe of the site and the search for possible remains.

The Village of Burns Lake, Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako and Burns Lake Native Development Corporation have met with Hampton Affiliates reps to discuss the situation and determine how best to support the community.   The Babine plant has been the largest single economic driver in Burns Lake. Mayor Luke Strimbold says members of the community are providing support to one another and he wants that to continue.

A Lakes District Tragedy Fund has been set up through the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Donations can be made at any back branch in BC.  For questions about the fund call Cindy or Angelika at 250-692-6683.  Grief counselors are on hand at the Margaret Patrick Memorial Hall for families of those injured and concerned citizens.