AbitibiBowater readies paper machine restart

Newsprint production at the local AbitibiBowater mill is scheduled to restart this week.

As a result Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue officials are warning people to stay off the Kam River.

Water used in the operation of the paper machine will be discharged back into the river, melting the ice in the process. Thunder Bay Fire Chief John Hay said that will make it dangerous for people to be around, especially snowmobilers.

Tracks on the river show that numerous snowmobiles have been running up and down the affected part of the river.

Hay said it is important for riders to know that the changing river conditions makes it dangerous to follow even the existing tracks.

Hay added that it is illegal to snowmobile along the Kam River south of the Highway 61 bridge. The Thunder Bay Port Authority has jurisdiction over that section of the river and restricts access at this time of year.

Meanwhile, AbitibiBowater officials say about 177 people have been called back to work this week as a result of the No. 5 paper machine restarting.

The first newsprint is expected to roll out on Wednesday or Thursday, following the six-month shutdown.