Downtown office building evacuated over gas leak

CALGARY – The Calgary Fire Department is blaming ongoing construction for a gas leak at a downtown building on Thursday night.

Firefighters were called to the 200 block of 4th Avenue S.W. around 8 p.m.

When they arrived, crews could smell a strong odour of natural gas. They quickly activated the building’s alarm system, forcing workers who were still inside to exit.

Investigators determined a four inch gas line had been struck by a forklift being operated by onsite construction crews in the parkade area.

Firefighters were able to shut down the affected line and ventilate the building.

No one was injured, but the incident did cause the temporary closure of eastbound 4th Avenue at 2nd Street S.W.