Quesnel, B.C.- West Fraser has delivered some positive news to the employees impacted by  the fire at the WestPine MDF plant in Quesnel.

The company  says  it plans to resume manufacturing MDF by October of this year.

The WestPine facility was badly damaged in  an equipment  fire  in March.

President and CEO of West Fraser,  Ted Seraphim  had  told employees the mill would not resume production until  the conditions  which led to the fire had been  fully addressed.   At a meeting with staff today, Seraphim announced  construction of a new system with advanced safeguards will move forward and is  expected to be completed this fall.

“After a thorough investigation we are confident that we can re-engineer the equipment and process flow at WestPine to ensure a safer working environment for everyone at the facility. We will also be making modifications at our Ranger Board plant in Alberta as a result,” said Seraphim

The employees have remained on the payroll since the fire in March, and will continue  to be on the payroll  through the construction period.