Another announcement in B.C.’s Interior of significant job losses at a region sawmill.

Norbord has announced an “indefinite curtailment” of its mill in 100 Mile House beginning in August, which will affect 160 jobs.

“This is a difficult decision in response to extraordinary circumstances. We have a first-rate team in 100 Mile House and this curtailment is in no way a reflection on our employees, their commitment to our customers and suppliers, or the local community,” Norbord’s president and CEO Peter Wijnbergen says in a news release.

The company cited mounting pressures for wood supply in the Cariboo region because of the mountain pine beetle epidemic. It says conditions have been exacerbated by two straight devastating wildfire seasons, as well as a supply shortage and high wood prices.

The mayor of 100 Mile House Mitch Campsall says the shutdown will be devastating, and says he’s hoping to arrange a meeting with the Premier.

“I’ve already been in touch with our MLA and also our MP to have discussions that there will be some major issues to deal with. We also have a lot of small businesses that are going to be totally devastated by this. In a small community, and for us to lose something like this, it’s almost as bad as having the fires. We may as well have our fires back, because that’s what it’s going to do to our community,” he says.

“B.C. needs our prayers. This is B.C. wide, this is not just my community.”

The news comes on the hinges of looming closures of the Canfor mill in Vavenby, the Tolko mill in Quesnel as well as a number of significant curtailments including a shift reduction at the Aspen Planers mill in Merritt.