Firefighters in Sidney say homes and businesses have been evacuated near the scene of a natural gas leak in the city’s downtown.
According to Sidney Fire, the 9700-block of Third Street was closed between Oakville and Bevan avenues after a gas line was struck.
Sidney Fire tells CHEK News the streets have since reopened and people have returned to their homes. The scene has been turned over to Fortis BC to repair the lines.
Some buildings in the vicinity were evacuated and FortisBC crews are on scene.
Fortis told CHEK News that one of its natural gas lines sustained “third-party damage” at around 10:45 a.m., and crews were on scene within 15 minutes.
They turned off the section of the line that was damage and repairs are underway, with no estimated time for a fix.
Twenty-seven customers in the area have lost natural gas services as a result, and FortisBC says crews will visit each affected household when they’re able to turn the gas back on.
People are asked to avoid the area while crews work on the leak.
FortisBC is reminding people to call BC 1 Call before undertaking any outdoor improvement projects that require excavation, and to always follow safe digging practices.
Earlier in the day, Sidney Fire said it was called out to another gas leak in the 10500-block of Allbay Road, closing down the road between Jocelyn Place and Lyme Grove as a result.
Mike Harman, deputy fire chief with Sidney Fire, tells CHEK News in both these gas leaks the crews had gas plans, but appear to have misread the plans resulting in the gas line strike.
On Third Street, the gas leak was during a new build construction with a machine, on Allbay Road the leak was the result of a shovel strike.
Gas line struck 9700 block of 3rd street. 3rd street closed between Oakville and Bevan. Affected structures are being evacuated, Fortis is on scene, avoid this area.
— SidneyVFire (@SidneyVFire) September 12, 2022
@SidneyVFire responding to 10500 block of Allbay Road for a natural gas leak. #yyj #sidney #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/Jadti8rcWF
— SidneyVFire (@SidneyVFire) September 12, 2022
CHEK News
