Emergency crews on scene of gas mainline rupture in downtown Quesnel – photo 250 News

Quesnel, BC – RCMP have evacuated all the businesses in a two-block radius, surrounding a construction site on Reid Street in downtown Quesnel after a contractor hit a natural gas mainline at 3pm this afternoon.

Quesnel’s Director of Emergency Services, Fire Chief Sylvain Gauthier, says the evacuation went smoothly and he’s commending people for leaving the area quickly.

Gauthier says firefighters and city crews have established a safety perimeter and will await the arrival of the FortisBC crew sent from Prince George to repair the damage.  The fire chief expects the repairs could take a couple of hours, and anticipates the downtown core will remain cordoned off until at least 7pm.

Quesnel City Manager Byron Johnson says the contractor was doing site preparation work for a new building on a lot adjacent to the Safeway parking lot, when he hit the line.  "There were no land settling issues or anything like that, he just hit it with his piece of machinery and ruptured a line."

Johnson says today’s situation appears to be quite different from the deadly explosion that occurred in that community back in 1997.  "This is a construction incident – this type of thing does happen sometimes – and particularly in older towns where it’s hard to know exactly where all the servicing is precisely."  The previous explosion occurred when shifting soil ruptured a gas pipeline, killing five people, injuring 20 and destroying two businesses.

Johnson says it’s been mainly businesses impacted by this afternoon’s evacuation, very few residents.  "Given the fact that it’s a breezy day, it’s probably not going to expand to include any residential properties."