Tolko Reconstructs Fire-Damaged Williams Lake Sawmill

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The reconstruction works at Tolko’s fire-damaged Williams Lake sawmill is under progress, stated the company. The fire incident, which took place Thursday, November 2, 2017 evening, had destroyed portions of the sawmill building at Tolko’s Lakeview Division mill.

According to Tom Hoffman, Tolko’s manager of external and stakeholder relations, the company’s board had earlier approved the reconstruction works. However, no works were carried out during the Christmas and New Year holiday season. The works have started over again on Jan 8^th, Hoffman noted.

The deconstruction activities are still in progress. As a result, assessment works are still pending. Once assessment of equipment is complete, it is likely that the mill may undergo some radical changes. However, Hoffman noted that it is not possible to provide any hint on the proposed changes. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, he added. It must be noted that the company had to suspend operations at Kelowna sawmill for almost a week following the accidental death of an employee.

Meantime, Paul French, USW Union Local 1-2017 first vice president stated that the fire incident has affected nearly 100 workers. The site still has around 40 people, engaged in security and maintenance works. In addition nearly 30 employees have been placed in Tolko’s other nearby sawmills. The proposed additional shift next week at the Soda Creek facility is expected to provide job for some more people from among the impacted workers. The company assured that it would try to retain as many employees as possible. However, the Quesnel facility is unlikely to have an extra shift, French noted.

Fire broke out at the facility by around evening 6.30 on Thursday, November 2^nd, 2017, which led to partial destruction of saw filer and sawmill offices. The fire was declared officially extinguished on Nov 3, following efforts by local firefighters and on-site company crew. The planer, housed in a separate building, was not damaged and had soon returned to operation with three shifts.

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In the interim, the company has undertaken several initiatives to provide employees with necessary information with regards to unemployment insurance and retraining opportunities. A session held late-November last year saw participation by representatives from Service Canada, WorkBC and United Steelworkers Union.