v7

ON TRA

oz

CK O

So

NCE MORE. Trains began moving
Narrows bridge Tuesday, nearly four months after the C.N. Rail bridge
was closed after being rammed by a freighter. Repairs cost over $6

A FIELD DAY FOR THE MEDIA

Saas ce a rr

ss CAR PRE ASS

ECS

over the S

econd
Dickson photo)

‘

WV ‘disaster’ plays to a fullhouse |

By NOEL WRIGHT

As disasters go, it went
like a bomb. Well, almost.
The main difference from
the real thing was that the
spectators turned up in
advance.

By 1:25 p.m. Tuesday a
crowd of about 150 sight-
seers had already assembled
at 24th and Bellevue in West
Vancouver, the site of
Mayor Derrick Humphreys’
disaster exercise involving a
simulated collision between
a fuel oil delivery truck and a
B.C. Rail propane tank car.

Twenty minutes later the
freight train moved dutifully
along Bellevue and halted
with its propane car exactly
abreast of an old oil tank
lying beside the tracks -- the
latter representing the
flaming fuel delivery truck
dragged along from the point
of collision at the 25th and
Bellevue crossing.

Dense smoke from smoke
bombs around the tank
enveloped Bellevue and the
crowd, now rapidly growing.
TV cameramen and press
photographers scurried
around looking for angles.

Five minules passed, then
the first sirens were heard.
Police cars and fire trucks
descended on scene from
three directions at once
Within three or four more
minutes the hoses’ were
giving the propane tanker
the carwash of its life

BURGLAR

HOME
OR
BUSINESS

QUALITY WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED

ARPEL SECURITY SYSTEMS 437-3317

‘The media cameras were
having a field day. Radio
reporters wandered around
hopefully with their mikes at
the ready. Two firemen
donned __ silver “close
contact” suits and took over
the hosing. The 100-ft
“Firebird” ladder was ex-
tended and started to squirt
foam over the tanker. The
smoke bombs finally ad-
mitted defeat.

The only hitch was the late
arrival of the bus to remove
residents from the
threatened Seastrand
highrise. At first the driver
couldn't find a way in around
the fire hoses...

But by half an hour after
curtain time he’d figured it

out. Twenty remarkably
bappy looking evacuees,
most of them elderly,

trooped aboard and were
trundled away to the safety
of the Rec Centre.

By now the south side of
Bellevue was looking as if
the washing machine had
overflowed. TV crews and

roving mikes  buttonholed
Mayor Humphreys for
quickie interviews. The

crowd -- which had grown to
at least 500 -- sensed the fun
was Over and began slowly to
drift away.

Police, firemen and the
municipal engineering

department were left to clear
up the mess and ponder the

LICENSED
INSURED

lessons learned. By and
large, if things go as
smoothly in the event of a

real disaster, West Van-
couverites shouldn't have
too much to worry about.

late - and
doesn't turn up too early.

VITAMIN DISCOUNT WAREHOUSE

“The only place to buy your vitamins”’

The above

is what one of our customers
recently said.

We think he's right for these reasons. We offer

the finest quality products manufactured to the
highest laboratory standards

Through our National Mail order division
we do the volume to allow us to sell at
unbelievabie low prices, also we buy direct
trom the manufacturers, ‘‘No Middle Man!”

Knowledgeable, courteous staff to ofter
sincere service Drop in or phone for a free
catalogue and vitamin chart

We deliver
50¢ charge 10 OO min

Now 988-3454

For a Free Catalogue

Sebadou

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Vitamin Discount Warehouse
312 E. Esplanade North Van

Just so long as the bus isn’t
the audience

Nationals
on N. Shore
PAGE B4

Consultant

honored
PAGE C2

You missed
| last month
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Provincials
for N. Van
PAGE B2

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