Three victims in tragic Fernie arena ammonia leak identified

The BC Coroners Service has identified the three men killed after an ammonia leak in Fernie, B.C. on Tuesday, October 17th.

Of the men who died at the local arena on Tuesday, two were city employees while the third victim was a Calgary-based employee of CIMCO Refrigeration.

The coroners service has identified the victims as:

• 59-year-old Wayne Hornquist of Fernie.
• 52-year-old Lloyd Smith of Fernie.
• 46-year-old Jason Podloski of Turner Valley, Alberta.

Smith, an off-duty part-time paramedic, was working "at his other job with the City of Fernie when he died," BC Emergency Health Services said in a statement.

"The BC Coroners Service continues to investigate the circumstances of these deaths," wrote Andy Watson, manager of strategic communications in a release.

WorkSafeBC, Technical Safety BC, the RCMP and the employer are all taking part in the investigation.

An evacuation order for the area surrounding the Fernie Memorial Arena remains in effect.