Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 11, 1997, Winnipeg, Manitoba A8 Winnipeg fret july Canada huge fire casts pall Over Hamilton by Martin Ohanlon Canadian press Hamilton As firefighters doused the smouldering remains of a massive Blaze that destroyed a plastics Plant residents wondered How the company was allowed to ignore fire regulations for so that should have been gone a Long time said Jenny Point ing to the collapsed factory pouring thick Grey smoke High into the air Over her North Hamilton 1 think the City should have been on them More and Tell them to look after my sister said she was just waiting for it to the fire erupted late wednesday at Plas Timet a plastics recycling Plant that has been cited for 16 fire code it sent huge columns of Black smoke billowing into the the smoke could be seen across Lake Ontario in it blanketed the carrying the pungent smell of burned plastic and raising fears about toxic but environment officials said there was no but they said it was Lucky the wind was blowing South or thousands of peo ple would have been the destroyed about the size of a football was expected to continue smouldering Well into today As about so firefighters and 10 fire trucks poured on thousands of litres of damage was estimated in the Mil the cause of the Blaze want Hamilton residents watch massive fire at plastics Plant wednesday smoke blanketed the but officials said there was no toxic up photo some residents complained that it was the fifth fire there in As Many fire department officials confirmed the company was cited last fall for Vio but said owner Jack Lieber Man had been making Dave Cossette said officials met with Lieberman just last week and told him again to install we were right on the Doorstep of having to take the individual to court for not complying with the fire Cossette theres no question if that building had we would not be stand ing Here Cossette speculate on whether charges would be fears about toxic gases faded after officials said tests showed chemical concentrations in the air were within acceptable people in the area a mix of Industry and older residential neighbourhoods were advised to stay environmental Crews helped clean up contaminated and the cites water treatment Plant was monitoring Levels of Lead and evacuation alerts at a nearby Hospi Tal and jail were lifted yesterday As the situation ambulances at Hamilton general just a few Hundred metres from the had been on standby to evacuate 300 elective surgery was cancelled due to traffic concerns streets were closed Deputy mayor Dave Wilson said the three performers going at an impressive Honda event civic Sedan at this there is no second great r ate 1 0 h t factory financing up to 60 months on All new 97 civic sedans limited time offer Accord for Jiose who Rifee to mix impressive with impeccably feat Tartag our compile in feb Honda acor4s at we Sam Mew Corpse from a sporty elegant v6 arc Ilioiu Honda Canada finance and arc available Lor a lined Mancing is available on All 19j7 civic and Lor m 30 48 or 00 Inonia Nanc example Ai per annul per month Lor 4b is Lor a Loial of Down May be see your dealer for a claims fora or a dealer near Cali 1 88 8 9 h 0 n d a 9 o w my a built without City has tried to get the Plant to comply with weve had ongoing situations in other areas of Hamilton where weve been to court with people Over and trying to get them to comply All weve been Able to do is get a Fine levied against the Plant was leased last fall to Plas which was using it to Recycle rejected plastic car parts into pellets for Industrial a former worker said the Structure was filled with scrap police handling of Case criticized relatives Are sorry they had doubts by Dan Zakreski Saskatoon Star Phoenix Saskatoon relatives of the father of a slain Lightyear old girl went to police to vouch for his but left believing he was the we went in there to convince the ramp that they were wrong and came out three hours later basically con Vinced said Donelda does sister inlaw of Randy whose daughter Andrea was stabbed to death in her bed in the revelation added to criticism of How police handled the investigation of the girls death last a picture has emerged of a police Force in a so anxious to pin the blame on the girls father that they turned his family and friends against Doepker said the investigation divided All of it practically destroyed our whole another Nathan now faces a first degree murder charge in the Randy Kaminskas was the chief suspect for three weeks after Andrea died june his wife Glady said police persuaded her that he was the they gave me no doubt in my mind that it was my husband that was responsible for this i believed Gladys Kaminskas said earlier this her two Sisters and three Brothers were unsettled enough by the direction of the investigation that they approached the ramp independently last week to vouch for their brother they left the meeting disturbed and we didst know what to feel any said it shatters what you believe a family should it did not even enter our minds that a family member would be responsible for such a the family wants to publicly apolo Gize to Randy for even letting a Small seed of such a thought Ever be planted in our said i Hope that something is Learned from maybe we should Trust in Pur own Good judgment and not allow it to be clouded by others police will not comment on their investigation of the Doepker said personal exposure to the mechanics of a High profile Mur Der investigation left them realizing its a brutal family members Are left Uncertain where to direct their she said were angry with ourselves for believing what was put before us and also with the that they police said they were totally and this is How it i know they devoted a lot of hours and dedication to but it Doest change the face of what police did not charge Oxby until monday after he was picked up on a charge of attempted murder in a Stab Bing attack against Tara ;