Gibraltar Mines emerged a winner during a mine rescue competition held in Smithers last weekend.
The Gibraltar team garnered the Ron Brow Memorial Trophy for Best Extrication for Surface Team.
At the 59th annual Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition, mine enthusiasts, family and friends gathered Saturday to watch nine mine rescue and eight first aid teams compete, a Ministry of Energy and Mines press release noted.
Teams were challenged by rope rescue rigging, complex industrial hazards, dynamic smoke and fire tasks.
“Teams are comprised of those working at B.C. mines with backgrounds in firefighting, emergency response and high-angle rescue, and often also lend their rescue expertise to their local communities,” the ministry said.
The competition is divided into three categories — surface, underground and three-person first aid. It features life-like simulations that test skills in firefighting, first aid, rope rescue, extrication and general mine rescue knowledge.
The winning team captained by Delainy Barry, Peace River Coal, consisted of members from Highland Valley Copper, New Gold Inc. New Afton, Huckleberry Mines, Greenhills Operations, Quinsam Coal Corporation.
The major category competition winners were: Three Person First Aid — Huckleberry Mines; Surface Mine Rescue — Gibraltar Mines, Elkview Operations and Highland Valley Copper; Underground Mine Rescue — Quinsam Coal, New Gold Inc. New Afton and Nystar-Myra Falls.
Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review congratulated the winners on demonstrating their commitment to high safety standards for mining operations in B.C.
“Your commitment is something we can all be proud of,” he said.