Emergency personnel have been dealing with a ruptured gas line in a commercial building in downtown New Westminster.
Brent Joel, a fire inspector with New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services, said fire crews were called to 811 Carnarvon St. at 9:22 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 23. Several fire vehicles responded after receiving a report of a possible ruptured gas line.
"They would have called Terasen Gas," he said. "It is a vacant building."
The building is the former home of the Centre of Integration for African Immigrants, which had its lease terminated in September 2011 because of unpaid rent. Preparations have been underway to accommodate a new tenant.
Witnesses told The Record that construction workers, who were working inside the building dropped some construction waste on a one-half inch gas line, which then ruptured and filled the room with gas.
Bus service was rerouted away from the site, which is located across the street from the New Westminster SkyTrain station, while officials dealt with the gas leak.
A spokesperson for Fortis Inc. (formerly Terasen Gas) wasn't immediately available for comment.
