Homes evacuated after natural gas leak in Saskatoon neighbourhood

People were forced to leave their homes after a natural gas leak in a Saskatoon neighbourhood Monday morning.

Emergency crews were called around 10:13 a.m. after a private contractor hit a 10-inch-wide gas line – causing a rupture – along 30th Street West between avenues C and D.

Most people were told to stay inside their homes until further notice – while residents in homes closer to the leak were forced to leave.

“We’ve evacuated approximately half a block to the west, north and south of the gas leak. We’re just protecting everyone in place,” said Rob Hogan, a spokesman with the Saskatoon Fire Department.

Officials confirmed nine homes were off-limits. Five of these were empty when the evacuation took place, while people in the other four houses were able to go to safe locations of their choice.

The scene is a block from Caswell Community School, which was put under a shelter in place order. Parents have been notified, and police were organizing a safe corridor for school buses Monday afternoon.

Traffic restrictions were still in place as of 2:30 p.m., with police blocking entry to the road.

Several SaskEnergy trucks arrived around 10:45 a.m. and workers began digging into the road on Avenue C to shut off the affected natural gas line.

An afternoon press release said the gas supply was expected to be completely shut off to the damaged pipe by 9 p.m. with “minimal” disruption to area homes and businesses.

Additionally, Saskatoon’s emergency management organization arrived around 11:15 a.m. to co-ordinate the response with its command bus.