Prince George, BC – Immediate thoughts and efforts are focused on the 150 employees of Lakeland Mills in the aftermath last night’s fatal explosion.

One person succumbed to their injuries at the University Hospital of Northern BC early this morning, four others have been sent by air ambulance to burn units at Vancouver General, Royal Jubilee and the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, while six remain in serious condition at UHNBC.

United Steelworkers Local 1-424 President, Frank Everitt, says a private reception centre has been established for mill workers and their families at the Coast Inn of the North.  Counsellors from Walmsley & Associates were brought in to meet with everyone as a group, and are now speaking with individuals while the employees continue to talk among themselves.

Everitt says, "We’re dealing directly with those who were at work and those employees who weren’t at work (last night) – trying to get them talking about the experience and the devastation that happened and certainly the loss of life this morning."

"And also (talking about) the people that have been transferred out because of burns," says Everitt.  "Because anytime you transfer somebody to a burn unit, you know that it’s a pretty serious situation."

Everitt says arrangements are being made for family members to travel to be with their injured loved ones.

Lakeland Mills has another private meeting scheduled with employees at 6:30pm this evening.