Just after noon yesterday (November 9), the Airdrie Fire Department responded to reports of a damaged natural gas line.

Deputy Fire Chief Garth Rabel said the incident occurred in the #100 Block of Hillcrest Square.

"There was a contractor that was excavating post holes and wasn't being as careful as they need to be and they struck and damaged quite a major supply line, a two inch main which carries a lot of high pressure gas."

The area is a multi-family residential area, but Rabel said thankfully the only people present at the time were construction workers. The immediate area was cordoned off and all workers were temporarily evacuated. Rabel did not have an exact count of how many people were evacuated from the area.

When fire crews arrived, ATCO emergency response crews were already on scene. Fire crews supported ATCO, and the wind also helped to ensure no other evacuations were necessary north of the scene.

After about two hours, the situation was brought under control. Air quality readings were completed in the area and workers were allowed to return to the worksite. There were no injuries.

Rabel said this incident, and others like it, are a reminder to take precautions when excavating.

"We've had far too many damaged lines or gas lines hit this year, and so it's really, really important that contractors or the public ensure that they get their utilities located before they do anything as simple as drilling a post hole."

Rabel explained there has been a number of similar incidents this year.

"Four specific damaged gas lines, that's from January to now. If you look at that overall, it puts a lot of people at risk."

While that number might seem small, Rabel believes there are enough resources that these types of incidents can be avoided all together.

"It's too many. When the services are there to support you to locate utilities and to excavate safely, than even one is too many."

The Fire Department wants to remind the public that it is important to contact Alberta One-Call at 1-800-242-3447 before digging to have underground utilities located and marked.

 

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