Fernie rink still closed as RCMP investigation continues into deaths of three men (original) (raw)

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Fernie rink still closed as RCMP investigation continues into deaths of three men

Published Nov 17, 2017 • 1 minute read

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A memorial sign and flowers sits outside Fernie Memorial Arena in Fernie, B.C. on Wednesday, Oct.18, 2017. Three people who died after a suspected ammonia leak were doing maintenance work on ice-making equipment at an arena in southeastern British Columbia, says the city's mayor.

A memorial sign and flowers sits outside Fernie Memorial Arena in Fernie, B.C. on Oct.18, 2017. Photo by Lauren Krugel /THE CANADIAN PRESS

FERNIE, B.C. — There’s no word on when residents of the southeastern B.C. community of Fernie will have access to a rink where three men died of an ammonia leak a month ago.

Police have been investigating at the Fernie Memorial Arena, and a post on the City of Fernie’s website says members of the Elk Valley detachment are now at the site, before WorkSafe B.C. begins its investigation there.

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The city says in the statement that it and other agencies won’t have access to the arena while it awaits findings that could determine what caused the leak on Oct. 17.

Two Fernie employees, 59-year-old Wayne Hornquist and 52-year-old Lloyd Smith, died along with 46-year-old Alberta resident and refrigeration company worker Jason Podloski, when the ammonia leak occurred during maintenance work.

Fernie declared a seven-day state of emergency, and an evacuation order covering 95 residents of 55 homes near the arena was in effect for nearly a week.

Tests conducted after crews could finally enter the arena showed there was no ammonia left in the ice rink’s system and officials said they believed all the gas had been released.

Ammonia is a colourless and toxic gas if inhaled, and it’s used in mechanical refrigeration systems such as those in ice rinks.

— The Canadian Press, CHBZ

  1. The City of Fernie hosted a public memorial Nov. 12 to honour the lives of Wayne Hornquist, Lloyd Smith and Jason Podloski, who died Oct. 17 after an ammonia leak at the Fernie Memorial Arena. Public memorial held in Fernie for men killed in ammonia leak at rink
  2. A memorial sign and flowers sits outside Fernie Memorial Arena in Fernie, B.C. on Wednesday, Oct.18, 2017. Three people who died after a suspected ammonia leak were doing maintenance work on ice-making equipment at an arena in southeastern British Columbia, says the city's mayor. Evacuation order lifted for homes near Fernie ice arena where ammonia leak killed three
  3. When former Karen Magnussen learned about the Fernie ammonia disaster, the news brought back memories of a day that will haunt her forever. She is pictured several months before being gassed and permanently disabled by a similar leak. Fernie disaster: Haunted by her own tragedy, former Olympian calls for better ammonia enforcement
  4. A memorial sign and flowers sits outside Fernie Memorial Arena in Fernie, B.C. on Wednesday, Oct.18, 2017. Three people who died after a suspected ammonia leak were doing maintenance work on ice-making equipment at an arena in southeastern British Columbia, says the city's mayor. 'Something went terribly wrong': Bodies removed from Fernie arena after ammonia leak

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