Pipeline involved in wildland fire, Yellowhead County says
A pipeline was involved in a wildfire in western Alberta on Tuesday, Yellowhead County says.
By the afternoon, the fire 35 kilometres northwest of Edson had grown to 10 hectares in size.
"On arrival, it was determined that there was pipeline involvement," Yellowhead County wrote online.
"Yellowhead County worked with the gas company to shut the pipeline in. There is no more leaking gas."
TC Energy, owner of the Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) Grande Prairie Mainline, told CTV News Edmonton it was notified of the fire around 11 a.m.
According to the Canada Energy Regulator, early information suggests the 36-inch natural gas pipeline ruptured around 10:45 a.m. north of the intersection of Swanson Road and Emerson Road.
"We are coordinating with emergency first responders," a statement from TC Energy read. "The affected section of the pipeline has been isolated and shut down. There are no reported injuries."
The rupture caused both an initial ignition of natural gas at the rupture site and the wildland fire. The intial ignition was extinguished, according to TC Energy, which said it was helping Alberta Wildfire respond to the larger blaze.
An update from the provincial service at 7 p.m. said the fire was being held.
Caroline Charbonneau, an Alberta Wildfire information officer in the Edson area, told CTV News Edmonton on Tuesday she couldn't confirm an explosion but that a large flame could be seen "from a distance" by area residents and from nearby major highways.
She added that the current dry grass conditions in the Edson area mean wildfires can catch and burn quickly. She said any spark, hot exhaust or friction near dry vegetation can cause a wildfire.
TC Energy's NGTL pipeline system transports natural gas from Alberta and northeast B.C. to domestic and export markets. The system spans 24,631 kilometres and connects with TC Energy's Canadian Mainline system, Foothills system and other third-party pipelines.
While some of TC Energy's customers were temporarily impacted while the affected pipeline segment was being isolated, the company said late Tuesday afternoon that the remainder of its system was operating normally.
“There are no commercial impacts at this time. We continue to communicate directly with our customers,” the company said.
“We are working closely with regulators and authorities and will cooperate in an investigation of this incident.”
Yellowhead County, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, and the Canada Energy Regulator are all investigating.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Speaker kicks Poilievre out of Commons over unparliamentary comments
Speaker Greg Fergus kicked Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre out of the House of Commons during question period today.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Conservatives push motion calling for Carney to testify, say it's about 'accountability'
The federal Conservatives made good on their promise to push for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to testify before MPs, resulting in a heated political debate in Ottawa on Tuesday.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
London Drugs stores remain closed, 'cybersecurity incident' may have breached personal data
London Drugs says it is working with third-party security experts as the company tries to reopen dozens of stores across Western Canada that were shuttered by a cybersecurity incident Sunday.
Judge raises threat of jail in hush money trial as he holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.