The on site portion of the investigation into the Jan. 20, 2012 explosion and fire at wrapped up late last week.

According to Scott McCloy director of communications, WorkSafe BC have concluded the first phase of its investigation into the incident.

鈥淭he first phase of the investigation has concluded and we vacated and released the site to the employer on April 19,鈥� said Jeff Dolan, director of investigations for WorkSafe BC. 鈥淥ur focus now will be on the testing and analysis of the evidence we gathered over the past 12 weeks,鈥� he said.

WorkSafe BC has had an investigative team at the site since the incident and has examined the complex and hazardous site for potential ignition and fuel sources that caused the explosion.

In recent weeks, cranes and other heavy equipment were brought in to selectively remove debris and allow access to areas of interest within the site.

Dolan said, 鈥淎t this time, all pertinent areas of interest have been fully examined and all evidence has been removed for further detailed analysis and lab testing to identify the causal and underlying factors that led to the explosion.鈥�

WorkSafe BC has been the lead agency of jurisdiction since Jan. 26 2012 at the site and the has been working in cooperation to examine all areas under its jurisdiction.

To date, WorkSafe BC investigators have conducted in excess of 80 witness interviews of those who were involved in the incident including mill employees, the employer and anyone else with pertinent information about the explosion.

There have been as many as 20 WorkSafe BC personnel working on the investigation since it was initiated.

Dolan said, 鈥淭he next phase of the investigation will be equally complex and is expected to take many more months to conclude.鈥�

鈥淭he families of the deceased have been informed, along with the employer [Hampton Affiliates] of our departure from the site and the status of the investigation.鈥�

McCloy said to Lakes District 亚洲天堂 that the investigation into the explosion and fire is going well and is now transitioning into the analysis stage.

鈥淲e now believe we have gathered sufficient evidence from the site,鈥� McCloy said, adding that he is unable to comment any further about any findings.

There is no further restrictions in place at the site by WorkSafe BC and McCloy said Hampton Affiliates now have full control at the site.

He also said that and their insurance company have had controlled access to the site for more than two weeks.

鈥淲e are conscious about not wanting to hamper their progress.鈥�

It could now be up to six months before WorkSafe BC publicly release any findings from their investigation.

鈥淭here will be something released before the end of the year. I know that there is a great many people that have an interest in knowing what happened at the site, including the families and employees as well as other mills .... we are working as fast as we can.鈥�

Steve Zika, Hampton Affiliates chief executive officer said the turning over of the site is positive news for the company.

鈥淚t is good news from our stand point as we will now be able to have our insurance people on site to evaluate the claim.鈥�

Zika said that although the insurance company has been allowed to access the site for the past couple of weeks under the direction of WorkSafe BC, they were not free to go where they wanted on site to investigate property.

鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 just wander around where they wanted, now they will have full access,鈥� he said.

Zika also said Hampton Affiliates is aware that the First Nation community wants to hold a memorial service at the site in the coming weeks and he said the insurance company is being very careful not to disturb the site in the interim.

鈥淎 full clean up of the site won鈥檛 begin until the memorial service has been held,鈥� he said.

Zika expects the sawmill鈥檚 remaining 14 million board feet of lumber will be dried and planed during the first week of May and will take a crew of 15 to 20 people about five or six weeks to process.

鈥淲e are still in discussions with the province about timber supply and we understand that other communities and mills have expressed nervousness about the impact any decision the province makes may have in them and I know that the province is taking this into consideration.鈥�

Zika said Hampton Affiliates remains optimistic that the sawmill will be rebuilt.

鈥淥ur plans for the sawmill are proceeding like it is going to happen.鈥�

It is too early to talk about production, or how many employees we will have working. We will be using discretion about how and where on the property the sawmill is rebuilt in consideration for the families of those that lost loved ones,鈥� he added.