A gas leak near the town's Information Tourism Centre last week forced the evacuation of several businesses and institutions but the emergency was quickly resolved within two hours without harm to any citizen.
A gas leak near the town's Information Tourism Centre last week forced the evacuation of several businesses and institutions but the emergency was quickly resolved within two hours without harm to any citizen.
Colin Whymark, community peace officer and supervisor for the town's protective and disaster services, said an emergency call came in at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 26 that Directional Drilling workers had inadvertently struck a natural gas line at the tourism centre, located at 5202 - 50 St.
"They identified the problem right away and it was called in as a gas leak," said Whymark, adding RCMP, fire department and ATCO Gas were also immediately called to the scene. "We first looked at what kind of pressure we had, how high the plume of gas was going. Everything was working in our favour in that it was blowing off to the north. There was not much of a risk of where it was and where it was blowing."
However, as a precaution several streets along Lakewood Drive were blocked off, and businesses and institutions in the immediate area of the leak were evacuated, including the offices of the Innisfail and District Chamber of Commerce where the tourism centre is located.
"All of a sudden a peace officer came into the office and said, 'Leave immediately because there has been a severe gas leak,'" said Diane Mineault, the chamber's executive director who was working at the time. "I didn't ask a bunch of questions. He just said, 'Gather your stuff and leave immediately.'
"When I went out there was fire trucks and all other kinds of other trucks. It was a mess out there," she added.
Whymark said when the wind shifted more to the north it was decided to also evacuate the Innisfail Library/Learning Centre, and to put visitors at the Anthony Henday Campground on alert.
"They did not have to leave but they did have to pack up and be prepared to leave on very short notice," said Whymark, adding it was necessary to have the area cleared as much as possible to ensure public safety and to give emergency workers enough space to work on the leak problem.
He said ATCO Gas personnel arrived on the scene immediately to find the damaged line, as well as the source of the leak.
"The line had to be pinched off. We had to wait for some locaters to come in to find the exact line. It was fairly fast," said Whymark. "Everything was fixed and under control by 6 p.m."
Whymark said he then released emergency workers from the area and ordered streets reopened. There were no reports of injuries to any workers or citizens.
