Editor's note: Article updated Wednesday, Oct. 18 available here.
At least three people have died following an ammonia leak at an arena in Fernie, B.C. on Tuesday.
Few details have been provided, but the city confirmed the deaths in a statement posted online. The deceased have not been publicly identified pending notification of next of kin.
Emergency crews were called to the Fernie Memorial Arena located on 6th Avenue, and a hazmat team from a refrigeration company was brought in to help contain the leak.
Fernie fire chief Ted Ruiter says the deaths have been hard to process.
"Anytime you're dealing with fatalities it's always tough," he said of the event's impact on his crews. "We're a small city and everybody knows each other. It's very hard to deal with, for sure."
Long time residents echoed Ruiter's comments,
"The whole valley is just devastated at today's events," said Chris Inglis, a resident.
Ruiter said B.C.'s Ministry of Environment is also sending staff to assist with monitoring and to determine what the next steps will be.
Meanwhile, the city's mayor says residents have gone out of their way to support the evacuees.
"We've had churches offer their halls, we've had people offering their homes if the evacuees needed a place to stay," said Mary Giuliano. "We'll be there for one another, and if it turns out [the victims] are Fernie people, we will be there for the families.
The BC Coroners Service confirmed it's investigating the deaths, as it does with all sudden or unexpected fatalities.
The surrounding neighbourhood was evacuated. All homes in the area bordered by 9th Street, 13th Street, Highway 3 and 6th Avenue were included in the evacuation. Streets surrounding the arena were also closed.
The RCMP are now leading the investigation of the site.
Updates will be posted on its website as they become available.
With files from the Canadian Press
