RCMP say they are investigating a possible pipeline explosion north of Fort St. John that killed one and injured another on Monday night.
It happened at a gas plant site about 150 kilometres north of the city.
According to B.C.’s energy regulator, workers at a gas plant struck a pipe shortly before 6 p.m. on April 14, sparking the fire.
Tourmaline Oil, which owns the facility and produces natural gas in the region, says two people were injured, one fatally.
The Alberta-based company says the site was “immediately shut down” and local authorities notified, including nearby First Nations.
B.C. Emergency Health Services says four ambulances responded and met the company’s medivan on the road.
Members of the energy regulator and local fire crews attended the fire, which was finally extinguished shortly after midnight.
RCMP say no criminality is suspected. WorkSafeB.C. and the B.C. Energy Regulator are also investigating.
The energy regulator says there is no further risk to the public or the environment.
Tourmaline says it extends its condolences to everyone affected and will co-operate fully with the investigations.
“The plant is undamaged and remains shut in during this investigation. Tourmaline’s primary focus remains on the safety and well-being of onsite personnel and mitigating risk to the environment,” the statement says.
The company’s website says Tourmaline is Canada’s largest natural gas producer, “focused on long-term growth through an aggressive exploration, development, production and acquisition program in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.”
