Mill Operator Injured at Domtar Port Alberni site, Investigation Underway

A worker at the Domtar mill in Port Alberni, British Columbia, has been transported to hospital in serious condition following an on-site incident on April 9.

According to the Port Alberni Fire Department, emergency crews were dispatched at 5:44 a.m. to the mill site on Stamp Avenue. Upon arrival, BC Emergency Health Services (EHS) personnel were already on scene. Firefighters assisted paramedics in transporting the injured worker to West Coast General Hospital before crews cleared the site at approximately 6:15 a.m.

BC EHS said it responded with one air ambulance and two ground ambulances, confirming that one patient was taken to hospital in serious condition.

Keith Ellwood, site manager at the Port Alberni mill, said the employee sustained a burn injury and was later transferred to Vancouver General Hospital, where they remain under care.

Operations in the affected area were halted for the remainder of the day following the incident. Investigators from WorkSafeBC attended the site shortly after, and an investigation into the cause is ongoing. The company said details remain limited while the review is in progress.

Ellwood said the immediate focus is on supporting the injured employee, their family, and colleagues. Assistance is being provided through the company’s Employee Family Assistance Program, and workers have been encouraged to take time off if needed.

As of April 11, the mill had resumed full operations and continues to run on a 24/7 schedule.