Facebook/Terry Teegee
A pipeline has ruptured and sparked a massive fire northeast of Prince George.
British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment says it has been notified of the incident and that the 900 PSI natural gas line is operated by Enbridge.
It says the incident is ongoing in the community of Shelley, about 15 kilometres northeast of Prince George.
Prince George RCMP said an incandescent orange fireball that was seen for kilometres around at approximately 5:30 p.m.
Homes within several kilometres were evacuated as a precaution, but people are now being allowed to return, police said in a news release at 7:30 p.m.
There was no damage to anything other than the pipeline, police said, and no one was injured. The gas has been shut off.
Police said it was unclear what caused the explosion but an update would be provided tomorrow.
Chief Dominic Frederick of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation said about 100 people from his community and another nearby subdivision were forced to flee.
The explosion, he said, happened about two kilometres from the reserve.
Source: Canadian Press/CBC
Ben O'Hara
