Crews were quick to respond to a natural gas leak at the RDN Transit yard in north Nanaimo on Monday afternoon. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

rotten eggs

Natural gas leak temporarily closes north Nanaimo street, delays RDN buses

Sep 16, 2024 | 3:27 PM

NANAIMO — A gas leak inside the Regional District of Nanaimo’s transit yard sparked a swift response.

Multiple reports to 911 were made just after 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16 in the area around Applecross Rd. and Calinda St., behind Costco Nanaimo.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue attended and discovered a leak to a pipe inside the transit yard, prompting additional resources to be deployed and Fortis BC to be contacted.

RCMP officers were also on scene closing Calinda St. at both Applecross Rd. and Hammond Bay Rd. as a precaution.

Nanaimo RCMP officers closed off traffic access to Calinda St., at both Hammond Bay Rd. and Applecross Rd. for around 45 minutes. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Those in the area reported hearing gas from as far away as Hammond Bay Rd.

“Our technician turned off a service valve at 2:49 p.m. The odour was coming from a house line which is a non-FortisBC line inside a property,” Diana Sorace, a spokesperson for Fortis BC, told NanaimoNewsNOW via email.

She added an investigation is underway to determine how gas escaped the line.

“We take all reports of natural gas odours very seriously and always dispatch a service technician to investigate the report,’ Sorace added.

She also reminded people to report immediately when they smell natural gas, which smells like rotten eggs through a chemical additive.

The incident at the yard is also set to have some minor impacts on transit service on the mid-Island, with some buses delayed or cancelled until around 5 p.m.

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