Early reports on the Squamish Terminals dock fire indicate there is no threat to human health from the air quality or the soot that remained from the blaze.
The 43-year-old wood and asphalt dock caught fire Thursday, April 16 and burned until Sunday, April 19.
Results of three air samples and 10 surface wipe samples taken by North Vancouver company Envirochem Services between April 19 and 21 found 鈥渘o potential air quality, deposition issues or concerns related to elevated levels of contaminants were identified,鈥� according to a news release from Squamish Terminals.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and other health agencies, according to the terminal鈥檚 Kim Stegeman-Lowe, will next review the test results.
Mayor Patricia Heintzman said it is the review by VCH that will likely help Squamish residents feel more comfortable eating from their winter garden and planting for summer.
鈥淭he results have been good, but how does that translate into, 鈥楥an you eat your kale?鈥� We are just waiting for VCH,鈥� she said.
Heintzman said the report from the health authority is expected soon.
According to Stegeman-Lowe, it will take a couple of weeks to remove all the debris from the dock, which is being taken by barge to Eco-Waste, a facility in Vancouver that will dispose of it. As of Monday, six barges of debris had been removed, Stegeman-Lowe said.
Beach goers are asked to continue to be wary of debris while monitoring, testing and cleanup is still underway.
Stegeman-Lowe said last week that the company will rebuild the dock, but not with wood pilings.
The 小蓝视频鈥檚 request for comment from Envirochem Services was not returned.
