The three victims in the Fernie arena ammonia leak have now been identified by the B.C. Coroners Service.
Wayne Allan Hornquist, 59, and Lloyd Stewart Smith, 52, both of Fernie, and Jason Donovan Podloski, 46, of Turner Valley, Alta., were killed following an ammonia leak at the Fernie Memorial Arena on Tuesday.
READ MORE: Beloved father, maintenance instructor ID’d as one of 3 dead following Fernie ammonia leak
Former prime minister Stephen Harper’s wife Laureen said Smith was a childhood friend and shared a memory on Twitter Thursday night.
Harper told Global News she knew him in high school. The two had worked as lifeguards at the High River rec centre. Smith also worked in the rink.
She described Smith as a “good person” and said he was “well-liked.”
“I see him as that kid running between the pool and the rink to keep things going and it looks like he kept that up as an adult. This whole thing is so sad.”
She didn’t know him as an adult, but said “he really was a nice guy” and added she is sad for his son.
The investigation into what happened at the Fernie arena is still ongoing.
An update from officials Friday afternoon said a pressure vessel from Edmonton is on the way to Fernie. The vessel can draw ammonia into a container, and safely remove and transport it.
It’s expected to arrive in Fernie at around 10 p.m. Friday. Officials are also aware of an ammonia odour and said they are continuously monitoring the levels.
Victim services are also available to provide grief counselling.
Officials have determined that an alarm went off in the facility at about 4 a.m. on Tuesday, and that a call was later made to close the arena so that emergency repairs could be completed, City of Fernie chief administrative officer Norm McInness said Thursday.
A specialist was also called in to help.
READ MORE: Investigation into Fernie arena ammonia leak continues as evacuation remains in place
Someone called 911 just before 1 p.m.; the bodies of three workers were later discovered at the arena.
The B.C. Coroners Service continues to investigate the circumstances of these deaths to establish the facts and to identify possible recommendations to prevent future, similar incidents. Other investigating agencies include WorkSafeBC, Technical Safety BC, the RCMP and the employer.
-With files from Jesse Ferreras
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