West Pend Oreille Fire Department
May 22nd 2009: Man fell in river @ 17:00 hrs
Posted: Jun 12, 2009 10:14
Body Found In Priest River
By: Bonner County Sheriff's Office
On June 8, 2009 members of the Bonner County Sheriff's Office recovered the body of Donald R Maskell.
Maskell was reported missing on May 22, 2009 when he went into the Priest River and was presumed drowned. Maskell, his girlfriend and another friend were camping along the Priest River when he went into the water. Members of the Bonner County Search and Rescue, North Idaho Search and Rescue, West Pend Oreille fire Department, Idaho State Police and the Bonner County Sheriff's Office searched on three occasions for Mr. Maskell. The last search effort on June 6, 2009 and was again suspended with no attional information.
Employee's of the Army Corp of Engineers at the Albeni Falls Dam located a body in the water near the dam on June 8, 2009. Members of the Sheriff's Office recovered the body with help from the Sheriff's Marine unit and Army Corp employees. The body has been identified as Donald R Maskell.
The Sheriff's detective will continue the investigation however at this time the death is presumed accidental.
Any further questions regarding this incident should contact:
Lieutenant Ror Lakewold
208-263-8417
Body Found In Priest River
By: Bonner County Sheriff's Office
On June 8, 2009 members of the Bonner County Sheriff's Office recovered the body of Donald R Maskell.
Maskell was reported missing on May 22, 2009 when he went into the Priest River and was presumed drowned. Maskell, his girlfriend and another friend were camping along the Priest River when he went into the water. Members of the Bonner County Search and Rescue, North Idaho Search and Rescue, West Pend Oreille fire Department, Idaho State Police and the Bonner County Sheriff's Office searched on three occasions for Mr. Maskell. The last search effort on June 6, 2009 and was again suspended with no attional information.
Employee's of the Army Corp of Engineers at the Albeni Falls Dam located a body in the water near the dam on June 8, 2009. Members of the Sheriff's Office recovered the body with help from the Sheriff's Marine unit and Army Corp employees. The body has been identified as Donald R Maskell.
The Sheriff's detective will continue the investigation however at this time the death is presumed accidental.
Any further questions regarding this incident should contact:
Lieutenant Ror Lakewold
208-263-8417
Sept. 1st 2009: Chlorine Leak @ 15:45 hrs
Priest River chlorine leak prompts evacuation
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 - 10:06:41 am PDT
By NICK IVIE
Hagadone News Network
PRIEST RIVER — The discovery of a leaking valve on a 150-pound chlorine gas tank at the city’s water treatment plant forced the evacuation of the city’s entire five-block downtown Tuesday.
Water treatment plant personnel removed the chlorine cylinder from the site and emergency personnel established a 300-foot quarantine zone, said Priest River Mayor Jim Martin.
The evacuation of the downtown area was prompted, in part, by increased wind speed. Once conditions dissipated, and a lack of rain, gave hazardous materials teams the upper hand.
Had the cylinder not been removed from the plant a warning alarm would have continued to sound until eventually prompting the system to shut down all water service systems to the city, Martin said.
Rain posed the most dangerous problem, because when combined with chlorine gas, it forms highly-corrosive hydrochloric acid.
“The situation could have been very serious, so we stayed on the side of caution,” Martin said.
Martin said between 100 to 150 people were evacuated from the downtown area and transported to an emergency shelter at the Priest River Lamanna High School. The residents and business patrons were allowed to return to the downtown area around 9 p.m.
Hazmat crews won’t be able to determine the amount of chlorine which leaked into the atmosphere until they conclude their repairs.
Back-up tanks were available at the water treatment site and were immediately put into place. After repairing the faulty chlorine tank, the cylinder will be transported back to the manufacturer at Tacoma, Martin said.
Three water facility treatment plant operators showed no symptoms or ill affect from the leaky gas but were transported to the hospital for a full evaluation.
The Priest River Police Department, Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, Bonner County EMS, and West Pend Oreille Fire Department were on the scene for nearly five hours, leaving at 8:45 p.m. Sandpoint and Coeur d’ Alene hazmat teams also were on scene.
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 - 10:06:41 am PDT
By NICK IVIE
Hagadone News Network
PRIEST RIVER — The discovery of a leaking valve on a 150-pound chlorine gas tank at the city’s water treatment plant forced the evacuation of the city’s entire five-block downtown Tuesday.
Water treatment plant personnel removed the chlorine cylinder from the site and emergency personnel established a 300-foot quarantine zone, said Priest River Mayor Jim Martin.
The evacuation of the downtown area was prompted, in part, by increased wind speed. Once conditions dissipated, and a lack of rain, gave hazardous materials teams the upper hand.
Had the cylinder not been removed from the plant a warning alarm would have continued to sound until eventually prompting the system to shut down all water service systems to the city, Martin said.
Rain posed the most dangerous problem, because when combined with chlorine gas, it forms highly-corrosive hydrochloric acid.
“The situation could have been very serious, so we stayed on the side of caution,” Martin said.
Martin said between 100 to 150 people were evacuated from the downtown area and transported to an emergency shelter at the Priest River Lamanna High School. The residents and business patrons were allowed to return to the downtown area around 9 p.m.
Hazmat crews won’t be able to determine the amount of chlorine which leaked into the atmosphere until they conclude their repairs.
Back-up tanks were available at the water treatment site and were immediately put into place. After repairing the faulty chlorine tank, the cylinder will be transported back to the manufacturer at Tacoma, Martin said.
Three water facility treatment plant operators showed no symptoms or ill affect from the leaky gas but were transported to the hospital for a full evaluation.
The Priest River Police Department, Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, Bonner County EMS, and West Pend Oreille Fire Department were on the scene for nearly five hours, leaving at 8:45 p.m. Sandpoint and Coeur d’ Alene hazmat teams also were on scene.
Sept 15 2009: Non-Injury Car Accident @ 20:00 hrs.
Hazards check: Hwy 2 and Wisconsin, 2 car colission with no injuries
Sept 18 2009: Unknown Injury Car Accident @ 21:47
Unknown Injury: 2157 Hwy 57, 1 car roll over in ditch no reported injuries.
Sept 29 2009: Lift Assist@12:51
Lift Assist: west settlement road, was canceled in-route.
