Almost a year after the fatal gas leak at Fernie Memorial Arena, user groups could be back on the ice.
The facility has been closed since October 17, 2017, when a leaking curling system chiller caused ammonia to be released into an enclosed room, killing City of Fernie workers Lloyd Smith and Wayne Hornquist, and refrigeration technician Jason Podloski.
Last week, Technical Safety BC released its report on the incident, which revealed the City had delayed replacing the aging equipment for seven years and knew about the leak but did not understand the risks associated with continuing to operate the chiller.
The City has confirmed the arena could still reopen September as planned following the findings, and the installation of a new refrigeration plant that will use the synthetic refrigerant Freon instead of ammonia.
The contract was awarded to Calgary refrigeration company Startec, which originally recommended replacing the aging chiller in October 2010.
“There is nothing in the Technical Safety report that impacts the arena reopening,” said the City’s Chief Administrative Officer Norm McInnis.
However, there is now concern about aging roof trusses, which the City says need to be replaced before winter and heavy snowfall arrive.
Depending on user groups’ preference, the roof repairs will take place either before the arena reopens, delaying the start of the season, or later in the season at a time that will have the least impact on arena activities.
The Fernie Ghostriders is one user group that will be affected by the repairs, which will take approximately three weeks.
The Junior B squad was forced to travel to Sparwood for training and games for the remainder of the 2017/18 season following the arena tragedy, and expects to return to its home rink on September 10.
Newly appointed Head Coach and General Manager, Jeff Wagner, described the Technical Safety BC’s findings as “disappointing” but admitted Ghostriders management had not discussed them in great detail with President Barb Anderson, away at the time of their release.
The revelations have had an effect on the team, however.
“Obviously it’s not a great feeling just because obviously things came out that are out of our control but at the same time, seemed to have been avoidable,” said Wagner, who was appointed after the arena tragedy.
The release of the Technical Safety BC’s report has also opened old wounds for Fernie Fire Chief Ted Ruiter, who admitted he had found the past week challenging.
“It’s like you’re taking the bandaid off a wound and you’re opening it up again, and all those emotions and thoughts of that particular day come back to the surface,” he said.
“I think on some level it provides a bit of closure but on some level it also casts a bit of a sombre mood across the community just in regards to bringing that stuff right back to the surface again.”
The Fernie incident is believed to be the first of its kind in terms of the equipment failure, according to Technical Safety BC.
The agency has made 18 recommendations to prevent it happening again and to improve safety in ice rink refrigeration systems throughout B.C.
They seek to improve owner maintenance programs, especially in relation to aging equipment; identification of leak hazards and professional disclosure of such hazards training of owners’ representatives, operators and mechanics; and, secondary coolant system configuration and construction.
“I think the 18 recommendations are solid recommendations and obviously they’re going to better the industry as a whole and that’s all we can ask for really,” said Ruiter.
Two other investigations into the arena tragedy are still underway, with WorkSafeBC expected to hand down its report this month, according to Ruiter.
“It’s a very unfortunate tragic incident but what we have to take away from this, in retrospect, is that there are lessons to be learned and hopefully the regulations they’re putting in place make this whole refrigeration/ammonia system safer,” he said.
Roof repairs explained
Fernie Memorial Arena will tentatively open on time for the upcoming season, however, up to three weeks of roof repairs arenecessary before winter arrives.
City of Fernie Chief Administrative Officer Norm McInnis explained that there is an issue with the trusses, which requirereplacement.
“That building has been sitting there since 1959 and there’s been no issues with it at all,” he said.
But, as time has passed, so has the need to replace what is old.
McInnis said now that Technical Safety BC’s report had been brought to their attention, the City needed to address theseissues.
The City plans having everything in place, with all the necessary materials, so that they can shut down the arena for theshortest amount of time possible in order to make necessary repairs to the roof.
Unfortunately, an engineering report will not be completed before the start of the hockey season in the beginning ofSeptember. Repairs must be completed around the time that the season would normally start.
“There is no risk involved with it unless there is a significant snow load on that roof,” said McInnis. “So we want to get it donebefore the snow flies.”
The City will consult with user groups to determine the best time to shut down the arena for roof repairs – a project that willtake approximately three weeks. During the shutdown, user groups will be forced to travel to Sparwood for games andpractices.
The City has proposed two options for user groups – delay the start of the season in Fernie or open on time and completeconstruction later in the season.
As of press time, a decision had not been made. The City planned to sit down with user groups on Wednesday night to discusstheir options.