LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A pack of snow that shifted suddenly caused minor damage to a roof truss and caused Thomas Simpson School to close for one day last week.
A roof truss in Thomas Simpson School received minor damage after a large volume of snow slid off of the roof of the school's gymnasium onto the junior high wing, which is on the left side of the school.
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On April 9 at approximately 4 p.m. a large volume of snow slid off the roof of the school's gymnasium onto the roof of the junior high wing where it stuck against another snow pack, said Freda Blyth, the school's principal.
"It was a tremendous weight and force," she said. "We knew that something had cracked."
As a precautionary measure Blyth closed the school on April 10 until the extent of the damage could be determined.
"The damage is minimal," said John Vandenberg, who is responsible for the Department of Public Works and Services' regional office in Fort Simpson.
There was a late season snowfall and it built up on the roof and then melted quickly, Vandenberg said.
"We've have exceptional amounts of snowfall this year," he said.
The department's staff inspected the attic after the incident and found a roof truss was damaged. On April 11 an architect with the department visited the school to look at the damage and provide a report.
"There is repair work that is required, but there is no hazard," said Vandenberg. "It is completely safe for students and staff."
The department also sent a professional structural engineer to the school on April 16 who will also prepare a report. Vandenberg said the department will be acting upon recommendations made by the engineer and architect.
The department will also be reviewing the snow plan and roof clearing methods it uses in Fort Simpson for the schools. Changes may be needed so more is done faster if the record snowfall seen this year becomes an annual event, he said. Some snow clearing was done on the school's roof this winter.
The department also plans to have a structural engineer look at Bompas Elementary School's roof as a precaution.
Classes resumed at Thomas Simpson School on April 11, but the students were kept out of the junior high wing, the gym, the hall beside the gym and the front end of the foyer. Things returned to normal on Friday after the architect did a thorough inspection, Blyth said.
The school is assuring people the damage that needs to be fixed is not a safety concern, Blyth said.
