GAS PIPELINE RUPTURES
Northern community evacuated
PRINCE GEORGE A natural gas pipeline has ruptured and sparked a massive fire north of Prince George.
B.C.’s Ministry of Environment says it has been notified of the ongoing incident, in the community of Shelley, northeast of Prince George, and that the 900-psi gas line is operated by Enbridge.
In a statement, Enbridge spokesman Michael Barnes confirmed that a pipeline owned and operated by the company had ruptured at 5:45 p.m., about 13.5 kilometres north of Prince George, and there were no reported injuries.
The company ’s emergency crews have responded, Barnes said, and “have isolated and are currently depressurizing two natural gas transmission lines in the vicinity to contain the incident.”
“There is no indication of a cause at this point in time,” the RCMP said.
Between 70 and 80 people living on the north side of the Lheidli T’enneh reserve were evacuated.
“It was a bit frantic,” said Terry Teegee. “I just heard it at the start. I thought it might have been a jet engine or a low-flying jet. And the next thing that came to mind is that maybe it’s a train, but that’s way too loud. But then, as soon as I looked outside, I saw a massive fireball about a half-a-kilometre to a kilometre away behind the community.”
He said the subsequent evacuation to the band’s community hall on the south side of the river was a “little bit frantic as you can imagine,” but everyone arrived safely.