EVR teams excel at B.C. mine rescue competition
EVR mine rescue teams competed in emergency response events at the B.C. Provincial Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition in Penticton. Roman Bartos photo
Elk Valley Resources mine rescue and first aid teams earned top finishes at the 68th annual B.C. Provincial Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition, with Line Creek Operations placing first overall in both the Surface Mine Rescue and Three Person First Aid categories.
The competition was held May 22 and 23 in Penticton and brought together 16 teams from across British Columbia. Teams from EVR’s Line Creek, Greenhills and Elkview operations competed in surface, underground and first aid events that tested emergency response skills in simulated conditions.
The competition included firefighting, extrication, practical skills, first aid and rope rescue. The Mining Association of B.C. said this year’s scenarios included a complex underground emergency involving trapped workers, a dumpster fire involving fuel-soaked materials, a worker who fell while changing a pulley system belt, workers exposed to carbon monoxide and a vehicle incident on site.
“We are incredibly proud of our mine rescue and first aid team members across our operations and their impressive performance at the B.C. Provincial Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition,” said Mike Carrucan, CEO of EVR. “Our results once again reflect their commitment to excellence in emergency response and ensures that our people and communities can rely on our teams to support them in the event things unfortunately go wrong.”
Line Creek Operations placed first overall in Surface Mine Rescue and first in the Three Person First Aid competition for the second year in a row. Greenhills Operations also placed second in the Three Person First Aid category.
In the Three Person First Aid category, Line Creek Operations received the best written score, while Ethan Lukkar of Greenhills Operations received the best spare written score. Jen Virtue of Line Creek Operations was named best coach and Brittney Dorian of Line Creek Operations was named best captain. Line Creek took first place for best three-person team, followed by Greenhills in second.
Line Creek also led several Surface Mine Rescue categories, taking the best written score, best fire task, highest points and overall Surface Mine Rescue title. Alex Isaacs of Line Creek Operations was named best coach, while Harley Marshall of Line Creek Operations was named best captain.
The competition results continued a strong run for EVR teams. In 2025, a Line Creek Operations team placed first overall in Surface Mine Rescue, and a Fording River Operations team won the Three Person First Aid competition.
The B.C. government says provincial mine rescue and first aid competitions have been held annually since the 1900s and are designed to test mine rescue teams’ emergency response abilities. The Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia requires all mines in the province to have emergency response capabilities.
Jagrup Brar, B.C.’s minister of mining and critical minerals, said the competition highlights the skill and discipline of mine rescue and first aid teams.
“These teams train year-round to be ready for the toughest situations, and their commitment reflects the very best of our industry,” Brar said in a release from the Mining Association of B.C.
Mine rescue teams play a key role in emergency preparedness for mine sites and surrounding communities. The Mining Association of B.C. said the event is organized by the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals and the Mining Association of B.C.
EVR operates four steelmaking coal mines in the Elk Valley and provides jobs for about 5,500 people. The company said its operations are focused on responsible resource development, environmental performance and partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and communities.
The company’s 2026 results placed Elk Valley teams among the top mine rescue and first aid performers in British Columbia.