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Vernon  

Gas leak closes Hwy. 6

Update -- 9:40 p.m.

Highay 6 is now open to single lane alternating traffic. 

The evacuation of residents in a section of the Lavington area of Coldstream has been lifted, following disruption of natural gas service this morning when a motor vehicle struck a high-pressure natural gas line. 

The Emergency Operations Centre will be standing down unless conditions change.

Lavington residents can now return home.

FortisBC advises that when gas service is lost, each home must be visited by FortisBC to shut off service to the meter. Once the damaged pipeline is repaired, it is reactivated and FortisBC then revisits each customer again to restore service to the meter and relight each natural gas appliance in the home.

FortisBC would like to remind their customers to follow these safety tips to avoid problems with carbon monoxide:

  • Never operate a barbecue, camp stove or lantern in an enclosed space
  • When heating your home with a wood-burning fireplace, open the damper and partially open a window or door at or below the level of the fireplace when the fireplace is in use; close the damper after each fire, but only after the ashes are cool

Residents can check for further updates on the Fortis website, and also contact FortisBC regarding the status of their gas restoration.


Update -- 4:00 p.m.

Highway 6 is still closed as crews work to fix a gas leak that occurred early Thursday morning. 

A detour is available via Dure Meadow Road, Whitevale Road and Learmouth Road.


Update -- 2:45 p.m.

Highway 6 is still closed as crews work to fix a gas leak that occurred early Thursday morning.

According to RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk, a car struck the gas line just after 9 a.m.

All residents within a 500-metre circle of the leak were evacuated and remain out of their homes.

RCMP are still waiting to hear from FortisBC who have crews on the scene.

DriveBC estimates the road will be reopened at 3:00 p.m.


Update -- 1:15 p.m. 

Highway 6 is still closed in both directions 10 kilometres west of Lumby.

It is now expected to reopen at 3 p.m.

A detour is available via Dure Meadow Road, Whitevale Road and Learmouth Road.


Original story -- 10 a.m.

A gas leak has forced the closure of a highway through Lavington while crews work on the leak and nearby residents have been evacuated.

According to Fortis BC, crews have already been called to work on the situation, but the company is unclear what they are walking into.

There are reports of a car on fire but that has not been confirmed by the local fire department.

RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk says officers responded to a single vehicle accident in the area of Park Lane and Hwy. 6 around 9:10 a.m.

A resident in Lavington told Castanet news the leak is causing a large plume of dust to blow into the air.

The Coldstream Fire Department says the leak is small and they are waiting to be called out, if necessary.

Highway 6 is the road that is closed, and according to DriveBC, it's expected to reopen at 12:45 p.m.

A detour is available via Dure Meadow Road, Whitevale Road and Learmouth Road. 

Can you see the leak? Have information? Send photos and video to [email protected]



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