Fernie Fire Department and Fortis responded to a gas leak near the intersection of 1st Avenue and 13th Street, yesterday.
Thirteen homes were evacuated around 1:00 p.m. after a subcontractor to the city hit a natural gas line in the ground while excavating.
“It was the city contractors that hit the line,” said Fernie Mayor Mary Giuliano, over the phone at around 4:30 p.m. that day. “It’ll be at least six hours before people who are evacuated can go back into their homes.”
The incident occurred on a construction site where crews are replacing water and sewer amenities.
“They hit it with a hoe,” said Bob Mitchell owner of Mitchell Excavating, for BA Blacktop, the contractor to the city.
“They’re hooking the bypass up now,” he said, over the audible hiss of gas leaking up the street.
The evacuation order was lifted just before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening.