Enbridge Gas Line Fire
Last updated on April 5, 2023DISCLAIMER: Information provided is based on reports received by Emergency Management B.C. Information provided is considered to be current at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.
Incident Description
| Incident Date | October 9, 2018 |
|---|---|
| Name | Enbridge Gas Line Fire |
| Source | Natural gas pipeline |
| Nearest Community | Prince George |
| Spilled Content | Natural gas |
| Who is involved? | BC Oil and Gas Commission, City of Prince George, Emergency Management BC, B.C. Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy, LHeidli T-enneh First Nation, The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Enbridge Inc., Northern Health, First Nations Health Authority, National Energy Board, National Transportation Safety Board, Environment & Climate Change Canada, RCMP |
Response Phase Detail
The responsible person or spiller is legally required to clean-up or manage the clean-up of a spill. In incidents where the responsible person is unknown, unable or unwilling to manage the clean up, the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy (ENV) may assume the role. The updates below reflect the Ministry’s oversight of the spillers’ actions; details describe the spill response phase, only, and not the complete lifecycle of the spill. See More Information for other related reports.
Updates are in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top. Industry-specific language may be explained in the Glossary of Terms (PDF).
Most Recent Update
October 12, 2018 - 3:30 pm
Environmental impacts are contained to the immediate site of the Enbridge natural gas pipeline rupture. The B.C. Ministry of Environment & Climate Change continues to engage with Enbridge and Pembina to address any onsite impacts.
The Transportation Safety Board has allowed Enbridge to begin working at the site. Natural gas will continue to be transported through the smaller natural gas pipeline adjacent to the main line until the site has been restored and natural gas can travel safely through the main line.
No further updates are anticipated for this incident.
Previous Updates
October 12, 2018 - 11:15 am
Enbridge restored the smaller pipeline next to it's main line and RCMP concluded their investigation yesterday (October 11, 2018). RCMP have ruled out criminal intent as the cause of the incident. Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is now the lead investigator.
The responding Environmental Emergency Response Officer (EERO) went on an overflight of the incident area with representatives from Enbridge and the BC Oil & Gas Commission on October 11, 2018. During the overflight, no residual chemical releases were observed.
The responding EERO with B.C. Ministry of Environment & Climate Change will continue to monitor and assist with this incident as needed.
Further updates will be provided when new information is available.
October 11, 2018 - 1:20 pm
On October 9, 2018, a 900 PSI natural gas pipeline operated by Enbridge ruptured and caught fire northeast of the City of Prince George.
Emergency Management BC opened the Northeast Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre (PREOC) and the LHeidli T'enneh First Nation self-evacuated their reserve.
An Environmental Emergency Response Officer arrived at the incident command post shortly after the incident occurred. One residence near the incident was evacuated as a precautionary measure.
An Enbridge overflight was conducted on October 9, 2018. It was confirmed that a 30m section of the Enbridge natural gas line ruptured. An adjacent gas line, also operated by Enbridge, was shut down. However, this line is reported to be well intact and is being re-pressurized.
A Pembina crude oil pipeline is also near the incident site. This oil pipeline is reported to be intact with minimal to no release. An onsite inspection to confirm this information will take as soon as it is safe to do so.
National Energy Board is the lead regulator responding to this incident and BC Oil & Gas Commission staff are also onsite.
Further updates will be posted as soon as more information becomes available.