Update: June 28 at 2 p.m.
FortisBC has clarified that gas did escape when roadworks on Sechelt Inlet Road struck a FortisBC gas line on June 27.
The "external party damage" to the Fortis main near Slim Street was reported at about 1 p.m. Thursday, said company spokesperson Mark Falkenberg. The event saw Sechelt Inlet Road closed for the afternoon, requiring detours for those travelling to or from Tuwanek or the Sandyhook/Porpoise Bay area.
"When our system is damaged, there are a number of steps that FortisBC takes to restore service safely and as quickly as possible. Our first job is to make the situation safe and determine the best way to stop the flow of gas due to the damage caused by an external party. As required to start repairs, we’ll need to shut down the affected section of our system," said Falkenberg explained in an email.
Repairs were done in the afternoon and the road reopened to single-lane traffic a few hours after it closed.
The damage saw 144 customers temporarily lose gas service, said Falkenberg.
Relighting of customers' appliances continued into the evening and into Friday.
FortisBC advises residents, "If you smell rotten eggs or hear the sound of escaping gas, stop what you’re doing, go outside and dial 9-1-1 or call FortisBC’s 24-hour emergency line."
And the company reminds the public to call before digging or excavating. "Approximately 90 per cent of damages to our gas lines are preventable by following safe excavation practices."
Original story
Drivers travelling to or from Tuwanek or Sandyhook/Porpoise Bay in Sechelt are facing a detour Thursday afternoon.
A gas line was damaged at Sechelt Inlet Road and Slim Street, according to the RCMP at 2:15 p.m. "Drivers can make it as far south/west as Columbia Fuels at Schetxwen Road and then utilize the gravel road beside Sechelt Hospital," said a news release.
They expect repairs to take "several hours," said a Facebook post.
Editor's note: A former version of this story said that there was no gas leaked, in fact gas did leak. This was due to a miscommunication – we regret the error.
