Watch above: Natural gas fire still burning at TransGas facility in Saskatchewan
PRUD’HOMME, Sask. – Emergency services are attempting to contain a fire at the TransGas natural gas storage facility northeast of Saskatoon.
At around 10:20 a.m. on Saturday, Mounties learned of a reported explosion approximately eight kilometres south of Prud’homme, Sask.
Officials say there was a natural gas release and corresponding fire from a storage cavern wellhead at the facility.
“There was a release of natural gas at one of our seven caverns at our facility, that gas then ignited and there was a fire,” said Dave Burdeniuk, SaskEnergy/TransGas spokesman.
At this time, RCMP do not believe the fire is suspicious in nature.
RAW VIDEO: Footage of ongoing natural gas fire in rural Saskatchewan
Burdeniuk says the blaze will continue burning for at least another day. An oilfield specialist is required and will work with them to extinguish it.
No injuries have been reported at this time. The facility is automated on the weekend.
“There was no one at the facility, so thankfully no one was hurt. The automated systems at the facility did engage and shut down the other six caverns,” said Burdeniuk.
“We can’t recall the last time – in the last 60 years of operating these facilities – that there’s been a fire. So it is very rare.”
RCMP are asking the public to stay away and are evacuating the area within a one mile radius of the site.
Local fire departments are currently working on containing the blaze with TransGas employees.
TransGas says the facility has been isolated from the natural gas transmission system. Burdeniuk does not believe the fire poses a danger of spreading to the other six caverns at the facility.
There has been no loss of service to customers.
A rapid response team is en route with a mobile communications unit.
TransGas is a subsidiary of SaskEnergy.
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