Homes evacuated, block closed off after gas line severed

About 12 homes on Machar Avenue were evacuated and a large section of the North-end was shutdown after a construction crew dislocated the main natural gas line Monday afternoon.

Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue district chief Les Newman said the contractor was moving some dirt around when they separated the two-inch gas line.

"It’s been leaking for the last hour and a half," he said around 3:30 p.m. Monday.

The construction crew was conducting sewer and water work when the incident occurred. No one was injured.

The Thunder Bay Police Service had the area closed off for a block in every direction of the broken line, which blocked off Court and Algoma streets between Bay and Pearl streets.

"With the wind moving the gas around, there is the outside chance that if it hits an ignition source it could light up," Newman said. "It’s probably just more of an irritant because of he smell of the gas."

Union Gas arrived at the scene located behind the Polish Legion on Court Street just before 4 p.m. to fix the problem. Newman said it would be another couple of hours before people will be allowed back into the area.

Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution, Newman added, noting fire and rescue will check the houses for gas buildup before they let people back into their homes.

Thunder Bay Police Service spokesman Chris Adams said fortunately Thunder Bay doesn’t see too many leaks, but from time-to-time accidents do happen. It’s something police and fire and rescue are prepared to deal with.

"Anytime there is a major disruption in a gas line like this, fire and rescue is called in," he said. "It’s a hazardous situation so they make the assessment. They give us information to the extent to which we need to evacuate the homes. In working together, we try to create a safe perimeter around the accident scene."

And while there was a strong odour in the air, Adams said they are assured the risk was low because the afternoon’s winds would dissipate the gas.