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Show ski tip. If it were not for this ski, he might have suffocated before they found him. He should have worn an avalanche cord. He should have removed his ski pole wrist loops before test skiing. Long- thong bindings aren't recommended for this work, either. No. 64- 3 GEORGETOWN CANYON. IDAHO 25 January 1964 ACCIDENT SUMMARY The fifteen- million- dollar plant of the Central Framers Fertilizer Company is located four miles inside the National Forest boundary in narrow Georgetown Canyon. The slopes immediately above the plant have snowslide marks on them which indicate that, when snow conditions are right, the entire plant area can be covered with snow. This was pointed out to the company's officials before the plant was built. In I960, when three company employees were caught in a snow slide, the company realized the real danger which exists in the area. Their safety officer contacted the ranger at Mont-pel ier, and made some efforts to investigate avalanche control measures. Unfortunately the company continued to be plagued by damaging snow slides. In 1961 and 1962 National Guard gun crews fired high explosives into the area to reduce slide dangers. In 1963 snow fall was light. But in January, 1964, there were heavy snows from 11 January through the 24th. The avalanche hazard increased until at approximately 3: 00 a. m. on Saturday, the 25th, a snowslide thundered down the west side of the canyon and smashed into the company's administration building. Damage to the building and contents was extensive. The force of the snow penetrated the southwest portion of the company's administration building, breaking down the ground floor wall on the west, and traveling through two interior walls. The snow was approximately four- and- a- half feet deep in this area of the building. Office furniture, files, records, and machine were battered and damaged. The buffeting action of the slide also broke through the west wall of the second story in several places, causing damage in three offices. This damage was considerably less than the ground floor. In addition to the structural damage, there was considerable damage on the second floor caused by the dampness of the melting snow. The security officer was in the guard station when the slide hit. Glass windows were shattered; snow poured in and buried the man to his waist. He was uninjured, but suffered from shock. Fortunately the guard station was not located in the direct path of the slide. Yard area damage was also extensive. The scale house and control unit were torn from the scale platform. 96 |