Mill fire could lead to closure

Avatar photo

GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. — Just when lumber haulers and mill workers thought things couldn’t get any worse, Grande Prairie Weyerhaeuser employees have been dealt another blow.

An extensive fire wiped out a large portion of the northern Alberta sawmill last weekend, and 200 workers may face layoffs in the New Year as a result.

The planer mill was unaffected by the fire, so truckers will still be able to transport some products to and from the mill. However, the 19-hour blaze took its toll on the majority of the mill, and employees fear the worst.

Weyerhaeuser spokesman, Brian Hillaby, says the company will determine the future of its employees over the next couple of weeks. The mill was slated to shut down over Christmas, but some workers may not be able to return after that because of the blaze.

Avatar photo

Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry.


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*