Quesnel, B.C.- The drama is over in downtown Quesnel.

 

Shortly after 6 this evening, crews from Fortis Gas were able to shut off the natural gas supply that had been rushing through a ruptured mainline in downtown Quesnel.   “As of 6:15, the gas supply was shut off, and only a small portion of Reid Street remains off limits” says Fire Chief Sylvain Gauthier.

 

He says Fortis crews continue to work on one line, but that is only impacting the 400 block of Reid, and it is business as usual for the rest of the downtown core of Quesnel.

 

The line was ruptured around 3 this afternoon during an excavation on a lot adjacent to the Safeway parking lot fronting Reid Street. There were no injuries, however, emergency personnel  said there was the potential for a major disaster had   there been a spark.

 

As a precautionary measure, a portion of downtown Quesnel was evacuated,  and Highway 97, which cuts through the heart of that City was closed. The highway   was re-opened about an hour later, but a two block area in downtown Quesnel had been off limits for the better part of the afternoon and early evening.

 

Fortis spokesperson David Wiley says   natural gas service is still out to one customer, but that should be rectified by this evening.