September 19, 2012

UPDATED: 10 buildings in Vancouver evacuated after gas line strike

RICHARD GILBERT

Staff writer

Fortis BC has stopped a major gas leak in Vancouver, B.C., after a construction crew hit a mainline and forced the evacuation of several buildings.

The residents were given the okay to go back into their premises about 3 pm.

“A construction crew ruptured a main gas line at about 9 a.m. this morning near West 7th Avenue and Cambie Street,” said Vancouver Fire Department spokesman Gabe Roder.

“We were called in to assess the situation and decided to evacuate 10 buildings in the area. Crews are still on the scene dealing with the situation.”

The construction crew hit the line in an alley behind 7th Avenue in the morning of Sept. 20.

It was reported to Fortis BC and Vancouver Fire. Three people have been taken to Vancouver General Hospital, but their condition is not known.

Roder said Fortis was on-site attempting to stop the leak well past noon.

“Once the gas line is shut down, fire crews will then test the air quality for residual natural gas in each evacuated building prior to allowing anyone back into their premises,” said Roder.

At this time, Fortis was still in the process of repairing the ruptured gas line. It is not known how long this will take. ..dThe duration for gas outages in the affected buildings is unknown.

A police barricade has been set up at Ash Street, west of Cambie, between 6th and 8th avenues to stop traffic from entering the area.

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