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
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.