UPDATE: FortisBC completes repairs on punctured gas line

Friday, Nov. 15

9:45 a.m.

Repairs are finally complete.

FortisBC spokesperson Jas Baweja tells KamloopsMatters crews wrapped up their work Thursday night.

A cost estimate of the damage couldn't be given at this time. Baweja notes the bill will be deferred to the person responsible for puncturing the gas line.

Thursday, Nov. 14

10:50 a.m.

FortisBC crews are at it again this morning to repair the gas line broken 24 hours ago on Valleyview Drive.

"The reason the repairs are taking some time is because the third-party damage was to a larger gas line — approximately six inches in diameter," says spokesperson Diana Sorace in an email to KamloopsMatters.

One lane is currently open on Valleyview Drive with alternating traffic allowed through. Flaggers are on scene to guide traffic.

Sorace estimates crews will be done around 6 p.m. this evening.

Fortis crews continue to work on repairs this morning to a damaged gas line in the 1800 block of Valleyview Drive. Flaggers are onsite directing traffic to alternative routes and allowing only local traffic in the area. There are no customers impacted at this time.

— City of Kamloops (@cityofkamloops) November 14, 2019

Wednesday, Nov. 13

4:20 p.m.

FortisBC crews are still working to fix the damaged gas line.

Spokesperson Diana Sorace says repairs "will likely go through the evening and perhaps into tomorrow morning."

"During this time, flaggers are on site directing traffic to alternate routes and allowing local traffic in. Valleyview Drive remains closed," she writes in an email to KamloopsMatters. 

12:16 p.m.

Four homes have been evacuated, according to Kamloops Platoon Cpt. Mike Haines, partly due to wind.

"We had a report of a gas line being hit at 1886 Valleyview Dr.," he says. "For safety reasons, crews evacuated the adjacent homes."

"They came in the house and tested everything," says Kim Janowsky, one of the people evacuated. "It was fine but they shut off our gas meter and the neighbours and evacuated four homes; our two and two across the street."

Janowsky was first alerted to the issue around 11 a.m., she tells KamloopsMatters, and firemen came shortly thereafter. She's been told it'll be a couple of hours until the situation is dealt with. Luckily, she has family in the neighbourhood she'll go visit.

"Crews are still on scene," says Haines. "The incident hasn't been mitigated yet; we ask that people just stay clear of the area."

12:02 p.m.

FortisBC crews are on site and assessing damage to the natural gas line, according to company spokesperson Diana Sorace.

The damage was caused by a third party, Sorace says in an email to KamloopsMatters.

"Our first job is to make the situation safe and determine the best way to stop the leak caused by the damage," she writes. "The next step would be to stop the leak and begin the necessary repairs."

The road will remain closed in both directions for now. A small number of homes were evacuated.

An estimated time for the road to reopen isn't available yet, Sorace says.

11:52 a.m.

It appears an excavator punctured the gas line while laying a conduit in the ground for BC Hydro.

11:40 a.m.

Kamloops Fire Rescue is on scene in Valleyview for a hit gas line in the 1800-block of Valleyview Drive.

KamloopsMatters reporter Eric Thompson says traffic has been stopped on Valleyview Drive, between Vicars Road and Cardinal Drive. 

He says there have been no evacuations at Valleyview Secondary.

FortisBC is expected to provide more information shortly.

KamloopsMatters is waiting to hear back from Kamloops Fire Rescue as well.

More to come...