Elkview Mine Fire Rescue

The Elkview Mine was originally an underground mine known as the Balmer North Mine, located on Harmer Ridge above the town of Michel in the Elk Valley region of southern British Columbia. Underground mining began in the late 1890's and ceased in the late 1980's. On April 3, 1967 a massive underground explosion killed 15 miners, leading to the mine's closure. In 1969 Kaiser Resources bought the property and converted the mine to an open pit operation which led to the removal of the town of Michel to the newly created town of Sparwood. The company was later known as Westar Mining Limited and went bankrupt in 1991. Teck Cominco purchased the mine and restarted operations. It was one of 5 mines owned and operated by Teck Cominco, later renamed Teck Resources, in the Elk Valley. In 2004, Japanese companies Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation bought a 2.5% interest in the company, as did South Korean steelmaker POSCO and the venture was renamed the Elk Valley Coal Partnership. In November 2023 Teck Resources sold Elkview and the other 3 operating mines in the Elk Valley for $9 billion (US) to the Glencore Mining Company of Switzerland. The new ownership consists of Glencore at 77%, Nippon Steel Corporation at 20% and POSCO retaining 3% ownership. The mine site covers 27,054 acres and produces mainly steelmaking coal, along with some thermal (bituminous) coal. Annual production averages 7 million tons and life expectancy of the mine is now past 2050. 
==Apparatus Roster==
All pump/tank measurements are in Imperial gallons.
===Main Plant-===
:2007 GMC C5500 / Pierce walk-around rescue (SN#19483) (Ex-?, purchased from Rocky Mountain Phoenix)
=== Harmer Ridge Station- ===
==Retired Apparatus==
:(470) - 1975 GMC C6500 / Saskatoon pumper (625 front-mount/800) (Sold to farmer in Holden AB) (Sold August 21, 2023 at Ed Prodaniuk Auctions to Hammerstrap Industries Waskatenau SK) (For sale September 2023 $11,900.00)
Category:East Kootenay Regional District
Category:Industrial Fire Departments (British Columbia)
Category:British Columbia departments operating Pierce apparatus