A week after Metro Vancouver tracked down an odd odour permeating North Vancouver’s waterfront neighbourhoods, the scent continues to linger in the air.
The smell, which people described as being like smoke or burnt coffee, was traced to a piece of overheating machinery at Cargill Canada’s grain silos on Low Level Road.
The company says they have been making “good progress” on fixing the problem.
“Cargill has been working diligently to make sure the issue is handled in a safe and responsible manner. We thank the community for its patience as we work around the clock to have the situation fully resolved as soon as we can,” a statement read on Friday.
Metro Vancouver, meanwhile, continues monitoring for air quality concerns and following up on complaints received from the public.
Overheating grain silos may call to mind deadly fires and explosions, like the one that happened in 1975 at the neighbouring Richardson International Terminals, which sent burning embers and debris throughout Moodyville.
But North Vancouver City Fire Department chief Greg Schalk said they have looked into Cargill’s issue and don’t have that worry today.
“There is no concern for public safety. We were brought in initially when the problem was identified,” he said, adding that Cargill has since hired a firm with expertise in the overheating equipment to come up with a plan to fix it. “We’ve reviewed the plan. We’re happy with the plan, and they’re working now with Cargill on executing that plan.”
