The fire of five years ago which destroyed the Burrard Terminal in North Van- couver, killing five grain workers, came close to repeating itself Wednesday at the Pioneer Grain Ter- minal which recently opened to replace the destroyed terminal. Sparks from a_ welder's torch started the contents smouldering in a hopper of 10-15 tons of highly ex- plosive screenings - dust particles used to make grain pellets. Though the fire occurred outside the elevator, compared to the previous disaster which occurred from within the terminal, eee ER Deputy Fire Chief for North Vancouver City, Ralph Meldrum commented: “It was potentially the same situation as when it blew up last time. “It was smouldering in little fires here and there and was one of those things where you just don’t know what is going to happen. It’s the most explosive stuff they have down there.” Firemen spent almost four hours on the call, which they received at 2:10 p.m., hosing down the grain dust as they slowly emptied the hopper. “We hosed it as it came out, to keep the thing down so it wouldn't blow up on us and we could keep the dust. down.” Some of the employees worked there at the time of the explosion of five years ago and chief Meldram commented: “They were quite concerned and were already running out when we got there. “I think they thought it might be another Burrard Terminal.” The fire department's resources were fully utilized during the afternoon since a call of a fire at a house - which turned out to be a burning cooking ‘pot - took a crew to an address on the 500 block West 25th. Stree while the grain terminal emergency was being handled. Nurses strike threat dims The threat of a strike by fegistered nurses at Lions Gate Hospital and other hospitals in B.C. subsided when a proposal collective agreement was finalized Wednesday evening. The next steps are Ss =~ , Aine