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Worker frees himself after floor collapse at former B.C. pulp mill

February 1, 2019 – A worker was briefly trapped at the former Catalyst pulp and paper mill in Campbell River, B.C. last weekend after a floor collapsed and caused a gas leak. 

According to the Ladysmith Chronicle, first responders arrived at the defunct Elk Falls kraft mill on Saturday morning after a report of a partially collapsed building, but the worker was able to free himself without firefighters’ help. 

An interior floor had collapsed inside the building, puncturing a large oxygen tank and propane cylinder. Firefighters cleared the area to allow the gases to dissipate.

The paper reports that demolition work was being completed nearby, but not in the building where the worker was trapped. 

The former mill is now owned by Rockyview Resources, which plans to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant at the site.