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Smell of gas in Westfort results in brief evacuations

A computer malfunction in the boiler room of the kraft mill at Resolute Forest products resulted in the release of gases and the evacuation of several schools and buildings in the Westfort area.
Resolute
A computer malfunction in the kraft mill at Resolute Forest products resulted in the release of gases and the evacuation of several schools and buildings in the Westfort area.

THUNDER BAY - An odd smell in the Westfort area resulted in the brief evacuation of several area schools and buildings, but there is no danger to the public say Thunder Bay Fire Rescue.

On  Wednesday morning, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue received a series of calls for the smell of natural gas in the Westfort area.

As a result, several schools in the area were evacuated, including Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute, as well as Mini-Queen’s Park on James Street.  

“We were right on scene once the alarm came in,” said Ed Hill with Thunder Bay Fire Rescue. “They were out for maybe 10 or 15 minutes.”

The cause of the smell was the release of gases following a computer malfunction in the boiler room in the craft mill at Resolute Forest Products, a spokesperson said. 

Production in the craft mill was shut down for an hour while the problem was fixed.

“They shut down the production of the gas and they had a wind change on them too, so it blew it right into town,” Hill said.

Hill added that the smell in the area should dissipate soon.

 



Doug Diaczuk

About the Author: Doug Diaczuk

Doug Diaczuk is a reporter and award-winning author from Thunder Bay. He has a master’s degree in English from Lakehead University
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