Lakeland Mills sawmill in Prince George will be rebuilt, the owner of the mill announced today.
An explosion and fire destroyed the mill on April 23, 2012. The disaster killed two workers, Glenn Roche and Alan Little, and injured 24 others. It followed a previous fatal explosion and fire at Babine Forest Products’ sawmill in Burns Lake in January of 2012. A WorkSafe BC investigation found that accumulations of very dry sawdust caused both explosions.
“Three generations of owners and employees have lived and worked here for over 50 years,” said Greg Stewart, president of the Sinclair Group, the company that owns the Lakeland Mills sawmill.
“This decision is as much about our belief in family and community as it is a good business decision, and it is a good business decision.”
Stewart said the company was still in the early stages of designing the new mill, but that it would incorporate “the latest safety protocols” and have more flexibility to manufacture both metric and American lumber lengths, giving it access to more diverse markets.
Construction on the new mill is expected to begin this spring and be complete by summer 2014.
