Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell announced yesterday that he will be leading the B.C. government’s efforts to help the community of Burns Lake recover economically from the devastating fire that destroyed a mill last weekend.
On Friday, January 20, an explosion and fire at Babine Forest Products levelled the mill, killing two Burns Lake residents and injuring 19 others.
As a first step, Bell will travel to Burns Lake on Friday with Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad to meet with local community leaders and organizations.
Bell’s ministry will work closely with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources and other ministries on short- and long-term economic development planning.
A rapid response team from the province has already been formed to work on economic recovery efforts, and the ministry said it would announce shortly who will lead it.
The team will work with the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, the village of Burns Lake, the Burns Lake Native Development Corp. and others to provide economic development and community transition expertise as part of the local response effort.
Babine Forest Products is a joint venture between the Burns Lake Native Development Corp. and Oregon-based Hampton Lumber Mills.
The mill employed about 250 people, making it the community’s largest employer.
On Monday, Steve Zika, Hampton’s CEO who was on site to assess damage and monitor the investigation at the mill, said in a press release, “At this time our focus is on caring for our injured and grieving employees… No decisions will be made on restarting the planer mill or rebuilding the sawmill until more facts are known and our employees are properly cared for.”
Jennifer Harrison
@JHarrisonBIV