Domtar pump mill in Kamloops, B.C.
Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
February 19, 2017 - 3:05 PM
KAMLOOPS - An unplanned power outage at the Domtar pulp mill was behind the pungent smell that lingered in the city yesterday evening.
Domtar's mill power source was cut off at about 4:45 p.m. yesterday, Feb. 18. Bonny Skene, regional public affairs manager with Domtar says it was a full and unplanned power outage.
"The odour-causing emissions that are usually burned during processing were released into the atmosphere as a safety measure. You don't want vessels under pressure when the power is out and things are shut down," Skene says.
The cause of the power outage isn't known at this time, but Skene says a full investigation is underway and that the company will take steps to avoid situations like this in the future.
Full power outages and unplanned mill shut downs are uncommon, but they do happen, according to Skene.
No Domtar employees were evacuated and the power was up and running about two hours after the outage.
The smell stuck around after power was restored and many Kamloops residents took to social media, looking for answers.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017