Premier David Eby came to Williams Lake and put out some fires, quite literally, on June 17.
The Premier stopped in for a visit at the BC Mine Rescue Competition at the Stampede Grounds in Williams Lake to tour the event and even had a chance to try extinguishing a fire while he was there.
Organizers had Eby suit up in coveralls and practice using a fire extinguisher on a propane-fueled fire.
After a briefing on the equipment and the scenario, he was made to test for wind direction, then move into the best position. He then put out the fire in front of a crowd of onlookers.
Eby then toured the different stations at the event, checking out rope rescue, vehicle extraction, and a mock three-story fire entrapment apparatus.
The Premier spent over an hour at the event before heading off to his next meeting. While in town, Eby announced up $10 million in provincial funding for Massive Timber proposal, met with MLA Lorne Doerkson, Mayor Surinderpal Rathor, and attended the Father’s Day Pow Wow at T’exelc (Williams Lake First Nation).
Competition continued on for mine rescuers, with plenty of spectators and decent weather for most of the event.
“The mine rescue competition is unique to the mining industry,” said Michael Goehring, president and CEO of the Mining Association of B.C.
“It was exciting to watch teams of highly skilled and well-trained professional rescue teams compete head-to-head in skills and procedures they hope they never have to use. There was ultimately one overall champion for each category, but the talent and dedication of each team truly makes them all winners.”
The Cariboo’s Gibraltar Mine team took top spot in the provincial competition for BC Mine Rescue Overall First Aid Event. The top overall teams were:
Overall Three Person First Aid Competition Winner: Copper Mountain mine
Overall Surface Mine Rescue Winner: Highland Valley Copper mine
Overall Underground Mine Rescue Winner: Red Chris mine
Chief Inspector’s Award for Exemplary Fire and Mine Rescue Service: Myra Falls mine
READ MORE: Mass timber, modular construction company eyeing Williams Lake gets up to $10M from province
READ MORE: Williams Lake plans new well , engineering design contracts awarded
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