FortisBC crews were called to gas leak on Rossland Avenue early Thursday.
The rupture occurred in a house located at 459 Rossland Avenue. This residence was the epicentre of an explosion and blaze that happened earlier this year, which police have deemed suspicious in nature.
Related story here: Man seriously burned in Rossland Avenue fire
The natural gas service line was damaged by a third party at approximately 9 a.m. says FortisBC spokesperson Tanya Laing Gahr.
“Crews are currently assessing the damage and hope to begin making repairs within an hour,” she told the Trail Times at approximately 9:35 a.m., mentioning nearby residences were evacuated.
“We thank the public for their patience,” Laing Gahr said. “Public and employee safety is a top priority and right now we are working with the (Kootenay Boundary) fire department while our crews make repairs.”
When a FortisBC system is damaged there are a number of steps the company takes to safely restore natural gas service.
“Our first job is to make the situation safe and determine the best way to stop the leak,” explained Laing Gahr.
“Generally, allowing the gas to vent into the atmosphere is often the safest solution and impacts the fewest number of customers.”
The next step is to stop the leak caused by the damage and begin the necessary repairs. To safely undertake the work, crews are normally required to shut down the impacted section of our system.
“As a result, some customers may experience a temporary loss in service,” she said. “Once the repair is complete and the impacted portion of the system is reactivated, service is restored by having FortisBC visit each home or business to turn gas back on at the meter and relight all affected appliances.”
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