After a week of doubt, a glimmer of hope arose Friday that Babine Forest sawmill could make a comeback.
The Burns Lake sawmill was destroyed in an explosion and fire Jan. 20, and a week later, its owners expressed interest in rebuilding, according to B.C. Jobs Minister
Pat Bell.
Speaking in a telephone press conference from Burns Lake, Bell said Oregon-based Hampton Affiliates, which has a 90 per cent stake in the mill, must first gain confidence in the timber supply before determining whether to start anew.
With 250 employees, Babine Forest Products was the major employer in the community of 3,600 people, 226 kilometres west of Prince George.
Robert Luggi, 45, and Carl Charlie, 42 died in the disaster, the B.C. Coroners Service confirmed Friday.
Forest industry veteran and the B.C. government's former "beetle boss," Bob Clark, was named the lead in the town's economic recovery effort. Bell said his task is to provide Hampton "with the best possible information as to what that fibre supply looks like."
Cariboo North MLA Bob Simpson said mills across north-central B.C. have doubts about long-term timber supply, not just Babine Forest Products.tral B.C. have doubts about long-term timber supply, not just Babine Forest Products.
"I'm very concerned we're going to get some political kneejerk [reaction] in response to the tragedy at Burns Lake," Simpson said. "It's just not appropriate for us to kneejerk and say we need to give this mill a long-term supply."
Simpson, an independent MLA who formerly served as the NDP forestry critic, said despite the tragedy the province needs to balance the needs of all mills operating in the province.
Hampton CEO Steve Zika has not disclosed the minimum amount of fibre that would be required, Bell said, and added the key is to avoid sacrificing one mill for another.
"That doesn't make sense for anyone," Bell said.
In July, chief forester Jim Snetsinger reduced the annual allowable cut (AAC) for the Lakes timber supply area to two million cubic metres from a high of 3.2 million cubic metres.
"We have largely planned for worst-case scenarios around the AAC decisions and there may be room to do something there," Bell said, adding other possibilities could secure fibre through BC Timber Sales, First Nations and community forests.
Babine milled mostly beetle-killed pine, but Bell expected a new mill could process other species.
"It would be the best of the best, and certainly be capable of running green wood," Bell said.
Asked what may happen if Hampton decides not to rebuild, Bell said he's "quite optimistic" that won't be a problem, and he's sure other entrepreneurs would step forward.
Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad said the economy is buoyed by "tremendous" mining opportunities, adding "enormous potential" exists for turning fibre into biofuel and other products.
Over the shorter term, Bell said area mines have openings and a jobs fair will be held in Burns Lake next week.
"We've been really overwhelmed," Bell said. "I should say we've had companies calling from all over British Columbia [with job openings]."
It will mean decidedly longer commutes for workers, but experience from Mackenzie and Fort St. James, when they were hit by severe downturns, "was that when you find temporary employment for people outside the community, they were able to retain their homes," Bell said.
- with file from Arthur Williams
