The Burnaby Fire Department is on scene as a damaged gas line has caused a street evacuation in North Burnaby.
At around 9:30 a.m. this morning, a third-party contractor hit a natural gas line in the neighbourhood of Gilmore Avenue and Yale Street.
Fortis B.C. and the Burnaby Fire Department are currently working to stem the flow of gas.
The line is currently "blowing clear," meaning blowing into the air unobstructed, said Fortis B.C. spokesperson Michael Allison. Apart from being completely contained, blowing clear is the best-case scenario, as it allows for workers to more easily identify the location of the rupture.
Ladder and rescue companies are among the 19 responders standing by in case of a fire, according to Deputy Fire Chief Chris Bowcock. Bowcock added that the two-inch Fortis gas line always poses a risk of igniting. Bowcock and his firefighters are equipped with fire hoses and protective gear in case of emergency, though he is confident that the situation is “well in hand.”
