Fort St John, B.C. – Spectra Energy and regulatory bodies are conducting investigations into a natural gas leak in the community of Taylor Saturday afternoon.

At 2:30 pm Saturday  the Fort St. John RCMP was advised that there was a natural gas leak at the McMahon Plant in Taylor. As a precaution, an evacuation of Southwest Taylor, an area of approximately three blocks by four blocks, was initiated by the Taylor Fire Department and the RCMP. As well, the Alaska Highway was closed in both directions.

The emergency response team from Spectra had the leak fully contained by 3:50 pm. By 3:56 pm air quality testing indicated that there were no remnants of the product left in the air and the evacuation was called off. Only a small portion of residents in the affected area had been evacuated by this time.  Police in Fort St. John say the remaining residents were allowed to stay in their homes and there are no further safety concerns.

At 3:55 pm the Alaska Highway was reopened and evacuated residents were allowed back home.

The Ministry of Environment and Environment Canada were notified of the incident.