Emergency crews closed a section of Vancouver Street for more than two hours today, in response to a natural gas leak in the 700-block of Vancouver Street in Victoria.
The street was closed from Collinson Street to Burdett Avenue between 11:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Eight homes were evacuated.
Victoria fire Capt. Mark Mastiliak said workers ruptured the natural gas line while excavating the area in front of a house with a Bobcat.
“When we arrived, the workers said they thought they knew where the gas line was and I guess they didn’t, because they clipped it,” he said.
Nobody was injured and firefighters were on scene as a precaution.
“As far as we know, with the gas readings they’ve taken, the area is pretty safe now,” he said at about noon. “It’s not as dangerous as people might think, but there’s always potential for it to explode.”
He said fire crews stand by with water lines and trucks ready, in case of explosion, but the risk is low.
Fortis B.C. spokeswoman Grace Pickell said the service line ruptured provided natural gas to a single home.
She said anyone with plans to dig — from workers to home gardeners — should phone 1-800-474-6886 or dial *6886 on a cellphone to find out about gas lines in the area.
Since the launch of that program, Fortis B.C. has seen a decrease in lines ruptured, she said.
Fewer than 1,000 lines were damaged across the province last year.
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