A man has died after last week’s explosion and fire at a small Saskatchewan farm product manufacturing plant.
Michael Lacoursiere, 35, died in Saskatoon’s University Hospital burn unit May 11.
Lacoursiere’s younger brother and business partner, Gordon, remains in serious condition in the same hospital.
The injury and death were a result of a May 9 incident at Delmas Manufacturing, of Delmas Sask., 25 kilometres northwest of North Battleford.
Something went tragically wrong at the family-owned factory causing an explosion and fire.
Provincial fire and safety inspectors have been sifting through the twisted, burnt galvanized steel that was the Peacock Spray Marker assembly plant.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
Carol Todd, speaking for the province’s occupational health and safety department, said the search for the cause of the blast is ongoing but results of the department’s investigation will likely not be released publicly for some time.
The small community fire department and most of the hamlet’s residents were aware of the types of products stored on the Delmas Manufacturing site, said local officials.
“The community has an evacuation plan. We have had for several years. We hoped we would never have to use it. Saturday night we did … It took less than an hour to get everybody out of town,” said Cecil Gerritsen, a municipal council member.
He said the hamlet of about 100 and its fire department knew the plant used flammable gases in the manufacturing process. Once the residents were moved out, police and fire officials backed away, allowing the gases to burn off without interference.
Five years old, the company produced a popular agricultural sprayer marking system that used a mixture of propane and butane under high pressure in its design. The sprayed foam was marketed as being more stable and long lasting than other foams.
Fifteen people worked at the plant. Residents say the tragic loss of a community member as well as a major employer will hit the community hard.
