STATEMENTS BY PATTERN ENERGY TO CBC NEWS
MONDAY July 23 12:43 PM
Email from Pattern Energy Legal counsel Frank Davis
“Pattern Development is anguished over the devastating wildfires affecting
the areas around the Henvey Inlet Wind project. As wind project partners with
Henvey Inlet First Nation, we are deeply concerned with the effect of these
fires on the local communities and are committed to helping in any way we
can. Our primary concern is the health and safety of local residents, the
public, and the workers. Pattern Development and the construction contractor,
CER, are in full support of emergency responders and the MNRF and are
offering resources to assist, including heavy equipment and helicopters. We
are working with Henvey Inlet First Nation and other public agencies to assist
in evacuations and provide temporary housing to those displaced. We stand
ready to provide additional resources to the local authorities and help our
neighbors.
“The direct cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Pattern Development and
CER are cooperating with the investigation into the cause, which is being led
by the MNRF.
“Regardless of the cause, we are committed to assisting the communities
affected.”

MONDAY July 23, 4:42 PM
Email from Pattern Energy Matt Dalla
Hi Dave,
Thank you for the questions. Here’s our best attempt to address them with the
info we have right now.
At this point in time, our primary concern is the health and safety of local
residents and workers and the containment of the fire. We are working closely
with emergency responders and the MNRF, and have offered housing for
evacuees and resources to assist with evacuation, including helicopters. The
cause of the fire is not known, despite rumors and speculation. Pattern
Development and the construction contractor, CER, are offering our full
assistance with the MNRF as they conduct their investigation.
The project site is currently shutdown. Prior to the fire we were maintaining a
normal construction schedule. We follow MNRF protocol and refer to their fire
rating on a daily basis, which dictates what activities we undertake. We have
multiple safety and fire prevention measures in place, including equipment

 placed strategically in the project area to combat fires.
Our fire prevention program is based on MNRF guidelines and protocols, and
all of our contractors have a fire prevention plan integrated into their health
and safety plans. MNRF reviewed the plan and was consulted during
development of the measures in the plan.
Best regards,
Matt

ORIGINAL QUESTIONS FROM CBC sent to Pattern Energy
MONDAY July 23 12: 53 PM
Frank and Pattern team,
As I await the statement your team is preparing, I need to move forward with
my own inquiries as I'm on a tight deadline. I am hoping you can provide
specific responses to the following:
1. To the best of your understanding - what caused this fire?
2. Was construction on the Henvey Inlet wind project operating 7 days a
week?
3. What consideration and mitigating steps did Pattern Energy (and its
contractors) give to the extreme fire hazard conditions in the region?
4. What fire suppression equipment and protocols were in place in the event
that construction sparked fires?
5. How many small fires were started at the construction side in the past three
weeks stemming from construction activity?
6. What do you say to the Ministry of Natural resources's initial
characterization of this fire as having been 'human caused'?
7. What do you say to assertions by workers at the scene that a piece of
equipment (an Argo) was left disabled in the bush, and that this is what
started the fire?
8. Who left the equipment in the bush? (A Pattern employee - or a
subcontractor of what company?)
9. What is Pattern Energy doing to assist in the investigation of this fire?
10. What responsibility does Pattern have for the damages and displacement

 being caused by this out of control fire that is consuming a large stretch of
Henvey Inlet territory as well as the adjacent French River Provincial Park?
Please confirm receipt.
My deadline for answers to these questions is 4:30 PM.