Firefighters went door-to-door on the morning of July 22 to notify Queen's Park residents of a temporary evacuation because of a gas leak.
Firefighter Kathy Ius, who is in charge of community outreach for New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services, said a "digging accident" occurred after a backhoe hit a gas line in the area around Oakland and First Street. New Westminster firefighters initially went door to door and asked some residents to leave their homes so crews had space to work and firefighters could ensure everyone was safe.
"It was a precautionary thing," Ius said.
Blair Fryer, the city's communications and economic development manager, said crews working on a new storm sewer hit a gas line. Residents living between First and Second streets and Fourth Avenue and St. Patrick Street were temporarily evacuated but were allowed to return to their homes about 20 minutes later when Fortis B.C. shut down the gas to the area, he said.
"Now, Fortis works through the fix," Ius said. "My understanding is they are dealing with the fix. The way around that is to shut off gas to the immediate area."
Fryer noted that residents who weren't home at the time of the incident will likely find cards from Fortis B.C. indicating that gas had been cut to the area and providing information about how to ensure the gas is flowing again.
In June, Fortis B.C. shut down gas in the area around the former St. Mary's Hospital after crews hit a gas line while working at the future school site.
"They did call before they dug," Ius said about the incident at the school site. "It wasn't shown on the grid."
Fortis B.C. advises individuals and businesses to be safe and call before they dig so they know what utilities could be buried underground.
