Syncrude fire injures 5
June 10, 2010
The Canadian Press
Five workers were injured Thursday afternoon in a fire at Syncrude's Mildred
Lake facility in northern Alberta.
Three of the five were flown by air ambulance to an Edmonton hospital after
the blaze broke out about 2 p.m., said Syncrude spokesperson Cheryl Robb,
who had little other information.
"All I know is they were medevaced to Edmonton," she said six hours after
the incident. "I don't know the extent of their injuries or any further
details."
However, she said the other two workers who had been treated at a Fort
McMurray hospital had been released by Thursday evening.
"Our priority right now is the injured workers and making sure their
families are notified of the incident and then we will be investigating what
caused the fire and what happened," Robb said.
"That takes some time, usually. There is an [Occupational Health and Safety]
investigator on site now and we're working with them. We'll be conducting
our own investigation also."
Robb said human resources personnel at Syncrude had been called in to help
the families of the injured men.
"Just making sure they have what they need, because I think it's a difficult
time for them," she said.
Robb confirmed that four of the men were contractors who worked for one
company, but she would not say which one.
The fifth man was a Syncrude employee.
Robb said firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and isolated the unit
while paramedics were called to the site to treat the injured.
She said the extent of the damage to the plant was believed to be minor and
production was not halted as a result of the fire.
Syncrude has informed Alberta Environment, Workplace Health and Safety and
the Energy Resources Conservation Board.
© The Canadian Press, 2010
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/06/11/syncrude-fire.html
