Kelowna

As gas leak inside a gated community forced the closure of Yates Road between Glenmore and Glenmeadows Road Thursday morning.

Photo: Grant Scott

FortisBC crews stopped a gas leak on Yates Rd. Thursday morning.

Witnesses could smell gas in the area, including near Watson Road Elementary School, as students played outside.

FortisBC crews responded when the leak at Chelsea Gardens, 527 Yates Road, was reported around 10:30 a.m.

By 11:30, the leak had been stopped and repair crews moved in to fix the problem.

"The gas is under control at that site," says FortisBC Spokesperson Tracy Tan. "Their technicians are on site and we're making the necessary repairs

About 19 homes had their gas shut off and once the leak was repaired, Fortis re-lit the pilot lights in the affected homes.

No one was evacuated and the cause is still being determined, although Tan says it appears to have been caused by a third party.