Mill is cordoned off and under police watch-photos 250News

Vanderhoof, B.C.- RCMP are now releasing the details of an incident which  saw  the sawmill shift at L&M Lumber in Vanderhoof sent home for the day.

Around 11 this morning,  Vanderhoof RCMP were called to a report of what was believed to be suspicious material at a mill. The mill began its own evacuation procedures as a precautionary measure. Vanderhoof RCMP secured the mill site and began an investigation into the matter, consulting the BC RCMP Explosives Unit to ensure appropriate public safety measures and safety procedures were being adhered to.

The RCMP investigation lead to a residence in the Vanderview Drive area, where officers also secured a residence and were able to locate the subject of the investigation without incident, who was taken into custody. The residents in the area were evacuated or advised to remain inside their homes during the police incident.

In consultation with the BC RCMP Explosive Unit, the Vanderhoof RCMP were able to recover the material that was originally believed to be suspicious in nature, and after a thorough investigation, are confident that the materials posed no threat.

At no point during this investigation was the public put in harm’s way and we are very pleased with the way that the mill responded to the incident and the way our members responded in this potentially high risk situation, stated Cpl Justin Thiessen, Detachment Commander for the Vanderhoof RCMP, We are relieved that this is where the evidence took us and pleased with the outcome.

The person who had been taken into custody relating to the incident has since been released and operations at the mill have returned to normal.