Reported damage to Fortis BC infrastructure was down to historic levels in 2024, however hundreds of calls still arose in entirely preventable circumstances. (Fortis BC)

By Alex Rawnsley

bad gas

Gas line strikes down across B.C., but Nanaimo leads Island in infrastructure incidents

Apr 15, 2025 | 4:24 PM

NANAIMO — It’s a good-news-bad-news situation for local residents when it comes to preserving the quality and integrity of underground gas infrastructure.

The good news is Fortis BC reports the lowest number of gas line damage reported to them in the last 20 years, 779 province-wide in 2024, which represents an eight per cent drop from the year prior.

However, the bad news is Nanaimo still leads the way for Vancouver Island communities with 17 strikes last year, causing headaches for those maintaining the network.

“There are tons of different utilities that run under the ground in our communities, to just make our communities, function and work and for our homes to function,” said Ada Nadison, program manager for public safety with Fortis BC. “You don’t want to be a person that accidentally halts the vital utilities from doing what they need to do to keep society going.”

Nanaimo led Campbell River (14) for most hits on Vancouver Island, with Victoria and Saanich each recording 11.

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Parksville had five reported instances, while Qualicum Beach saw two.

Nadison said despite overall numbers decreasing, one particular cause is accounting for more and more damage.

She said small or medium-sized contractors undertaking more complex landscaping projects are making a noticeable difference.

“It used to be pretty traditional in landscaping, where you’re enhancing your yard or adding new trees or shrubs, but now we notice that landscaping has kind of evolved and expanded to doing things like putting in a retaining wall, swimming pools, leveling driveways, so they’re they’re kind of encroaching into construction territory.”

She added 62 per cent of damage reported in 2024 was from people or companies who did not have an open BC 1 Call ticket.

The free service provides detailed information about where underground infrastructure lines are buried on any given property.

“Having that mapping information alone is not the magic solution to not hitting a gas line, you still have to practice safe digging practices in addition to that.”

Around 15 per cent of B.C.’s gas line strikes were on Vancouver Island.

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