Category: Breaking News

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Breaking News Ft Mac

Wood Buffalo RCMP Investigating Thickewood Breaking and Entering

Wood Buffalo RCMP, Thickewood, Breaking and Entering

The Wood Buffalo RCMP is investigating a recent Thickewood breaking and entering, and they are asking for help from the public to identify the individual responsible. The crime occurred during the very early hours of the morning on February 17, and the burglar alarm system alerted police that a breaking and entering took place. When the police responded and arrived on scene they found the Wolverine Drive Shoppers Drug Mart in Thickewood had been broken into. Details on what the male suspect took have not been released, police have only disclosed that the criminal did take some undisclosed items before fleeing, and he was gone when police arrived at the store. The RCMP is asking the public to look at the surveillance video and help identify the individual who committed this crime.

So far the Wood Buffalo RCMP have not disclosed a motive for the Thickwood breaking and entering, bu the fact that the store targeted was a drug store has made some wonder if the suspect was hoping to access and steal prescription medications that have a high potential for abuse, such as narcotic pain killers or anxiety medications. Anyone who has any information about this crime should contact the Wood Buffalo RCMP and tell them what you know. This time the target was a drug store, but next time it could be a residence that is occupied when the breaking and entering happens. Someone knows who this suspect is and recognizes the picture, and the police are asking this person to come forward and contact them.

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Breaking News Ft Mac Health

Accidental Pesticide Poisoning in Fort MacMurray Still Under Investigation

accidental pesticide poisoning, Fort MacMurray

An accidental pesticide poisoning in Fort MacMurray is still under investigation, although there is no indication that the incident was anything but an unfortunate accident. What is known so far is that the family was using phosphine pesticide pellets in their apartment to try and eliminate a bed bug problem, and the entire family reported to the Fort McMurray Regional Health Centre after they started to experience symptoms of phosphine exposure, and the mother and the children were admitted for exposure to and symptoms of phosphine poisoning. An eight month old infant died, and two of the four other children are still in critical condition at Stollery Childrens Hospital in Edmonton. The mother of the family and the other two children were initially hospitalized at the Fort McMurray Regional Health Centre but they were recently released, and they have gone to Edmonton to be near the two children who are still in critical condition there.

It is not clear whether any criminal charges could be filed in the accidental pesticide poisoning in Fort MacMurray, but as long as the incident was actually an accident it is doubtful that any charges will be filed against the parents. The entire community ha come together to provide support and raise funds for the family, and everyone wants to help in any way that they can. The family already lost their 8 month old, and two more of their children are still critical and their recovery is not guaranteed. So far the RCMP investigation shows that the exposure was accidental and few expect that to change.

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Breaking News Ft Mac Health

Community Support After Fatal Pesticide Exposure is Overwhelming

fatal pesticide exposure, community support

The community support from Fort MacMurray residents after a fatal pesticide exposure has been overwhelming. Members of the local community have come together to raise funds and help the affected family in any way possible. An 8 month old infant died from the exposure, two other children are still in critical condition, and two children and the mother of the infant were recently released from the hospital in Fort MacMurray after being treated and monitored. The insecticide involved was phosphine, and it was used to get rid of bedbugs in the apartment where the family lived. It is not yet known how the chemical was spilled or whether the exposure happened in another way. One fundraiser at the Markaz-Ul-Islam mosque during prayers raised around $7,000 for the family, and a GoFundMe campaign account raised more than $15,000 in a single day.

The fatal pesticide exposure has resulted in a lot of community support, and it has also helped to educate residents in the area about the dangers of chemicals in the home. Mosque spokesperson Wajeehullah Arain said “Everyone’s saddened by the situation, it’s a tragedy that has touched everyone across the community, not just the Muslim community, but the Fort McMurray community at large. We feel an outpouring from everyone and it’s really brought the whole community of Fort McMurray together.” Arain also offered prayers for the family and was glad to hear that the mother and two of the children were recently released from the hospital. “It’s good to hear, and I think it’s also extremely important for the mother to see and the siblings to see the other two as they’re still recovering. Our prayers are with them, it’s extremely challenging.”

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Breaking News Ft Mac Health

Children Poisoned by Insecticide in Accidental Apartment Spill, Infant Dies

insecticide, children poisoned

An accident spill and exposure to insecticide has left an 8 month old infant dead and four children poisoned and in the hospital. The incident occurred at an apartment in Fort MacMurray, and the apartment building was evacuated by emergency personnel including RCMP officers. The substance which was spilled is called Phosphine, and it is utilized as an insecticide and can be fatal to humans who are exposed to it. According to RES deputy chief of operations Brad Grainger “The danger is that it’s regulated and it’s regulated for a reason. With this type of exposure and the time that the family was exposed to it, it just continued to compound the issue is what it ended up doing. The family presented themselves at the hospital, because they were all sick, and they presented a sample of the product at the hospital. Our dangerous goods team was called in because the hospital was unable to identify it.”

When discussing the children poisoned by the accidental insecticide spill and the incident itself Grainger continued by saying “When we talk about a limited short-term exposure … that’s within 15 minutes, and you have to get in, get out and go back to a well-ventilated area. If you’re not, then an area of 50 ppm can be immediately life threatening. We ended up doing an across-the-board air quality testing, which doesn’t specifically earmark this … because we didn’t know what it was. (Monday) we were able to calibrate our machines to test for that specifically.” Prayers from many Fort MacMurray residents are with the parents and surviving children.

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Alberta Breaking News

Search and Rescue Efforts to Find Mark Salesse Still Unsuccessful

Mark Salesse, search and rescue efforts

Mark Salesse, a military search and rescue tech who went missing on February 5 when an avalanche occurred, is still the focus of search and rescue efforts but so far there have not been any results from these efforts. The search had to be put on hold for a period due to inclement weather conditions which made search and rescue efforts impossible at the time, but searchers have resumed their efforts again. Saleese is a SAR technician with the Canadian Forces, and he is based out of 17 Wing Winnipeg. Salesse was out on a military exercise and with a partner when the avalanche occurred, sweeping the technician away. Searchers have been looking in Banff National Park when weather permits, and the search and rescue technician was climbing a waterfall when he disappeared in the avalanche.

So far the search and rescue efforts to find Mark Salesse are still going strong, and the searchers are still holding out hope that they will find the missing military member alive and in good shape. Search helicopters and planes have been flying over the area when possible, and volunteers have been searching on foot as well. While the technician went missing on Thursday the search and rescue efforts to find him after the avalanche could not even begin until Friday because the incident happened in the afternoon. Night fell soon after, making a search impossible until morning. Other conditions that also delayed the start of the search included deteriorating weather and avalanche hazards.

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Breaking News Ft Mac

RCMP Investigates Suspicious Death in Fort MacMurray

Fort MacMurray, RCMP, suspicious death

A suspicious death in Fort MacMurray is being investigated by the RCMP. The death occurred on Monday night at an apartment complex located on MacDonald Ave. Details so far are few and incomplete, and police are still looking into the incident and are releasing little information to the public right now because the investigation is ongoing. A complaint was made to the RCMP at 11:20 pm, and the caller complained of a disturbance. When responding officers arrived at the apartment complex to investigate they found a male in his 20s who was deceased. So far the RCMP has not released the cause of death, only reporting that it was suspicious. The name of the deceased male has also not been released.

While the RCMP is keeping mum on the suspicious death in Fort MacMurray Monday night they are asking the public for any information. If someone knows anything about what happened in the apartment that led to the death of the young male they are encouraged to contact the local RCMP to report what they know. Right now there is little information and that leaves many questions unanswered. Hopefully all of the facts in this suspicious death will be made clear, and if the man was killed the individual responsible is identified. The RCMP can be contacted by calling 780-788-400. Individuals who are hesitant to contact the RCMP for any reason can also contact CrimeStoppers at 800-222-8477 and report any information that they have about this crime in order to help close the case.