A number of agencies are investigating following an industrial accident Thursday that left one man dead.

First responders were called just before 10:30 after an apparent ammonia leak at an ice-making company operating out of the Mount Paul Industrial Park, made a number of people in the area sick.

KFR Platoon Chief Darryl Cooper says fire crews arrived to find one person still inside the building, where the leak took place.

“Crews decided to for a line of sight rescue, we cut open a wall, where we determined the person might be, we used our thermal imaging camera to look and we could see a person right there, took the person out, and started performing CPR.”

That man was critically injured by the gas, and later died in hospital, he is identified as an employee of the ice-making company, Arctic Glacier Premium Ice, who was in his 60’s.

Cooper adds that one other individual at the scene was transported to the Royal Inland, in stable condition for, and for precautionary measures only. Six others were looked at by first responders on the scene.

However, he says its hard to say how many people went to hospital because of the incident, noting that some potentially may have walked in themselves.

“Reports had it, there were eight people, maybe from outlying businesses around the area, as we did ask for an evacuation of the area so we could get a handle on the leak.”

The incident did prompt RIH to ask people to avoid going to hospital for a time, due to concerns about a potential mass casualty incident.

Although business in the area is able to return to normal, Cooper says Arctic Glacier Premium Ice remains closed, as the building needs to be decontaminated from the ammonia leak.

Details are not quite ironed out but, Cooper explains the area may need to be evacuated again at a later date.

“That might create some gas coming out, but we will decide how we will do that at a future date, we may wait until the evening when most businesses are closed and see which ones are open and then clear the area, and then do the decontamination.”

Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Mike Farnworth, issued a statement due to the industrial accident in Kamloops Thursday.

“We are saddened to learn of a workplace fatality and several injuries in the community of Kamloops earlier today (Thursday). The circumstances surrounding the suspected ammonia leak at Mount Paul Industrial Park are still under investigation by the Kamloops RCMP, WorkSafeBC and the BC Coroners Service. There is no threat to public safety in the area.”

“This is a tragic situation, and we send our deepest condolences to the grieving family and friends of the deceased individual. Our hearts are with them. Workers and their families should not have to worry about their safety and well-being when they are on the job. Tragedies such as this strengthen our resolve to ensure everyone in B.C. can enjoy a safe workplace.”

“We would like to thank those who responded quickly and heroically, including the Kamloops RCMP, Kamloops Fire Rescue, environmental emergency response officers and BC Emergency Health Services.”