Residential construction worker strikes gas line, causing explosion
One worker and two firefighters were injured in an explosion and fire incident in Alberta last week.
The incident happened on Thursday afternoon at the Park Place Townhomes of Lake Mahogany on Mahogany Road S.E. in Calgary, reported the Calgary Herald.
On that day, a residential construction worker struck a natural gas line “in the immediate vicinity” of the incident, causing the explosion and fire, according to the report citing energy provider ATCO.
One ATCO employee was also injured at the site. A civilian was also among the four people injured in the incident.
The explosion completely destroyed the end unit of a row of eight townhouses, with flames spreading rapidly to adjacent units. Fire crews quickly called a second alarm to combat the blaze.
“It was strong, you knew it was gas,” said Keri Vandongen, who lived in a villa condo across the street about 20 metres from the blast site, according to the Calgary Herald.
“It felt, sounded like a bomb — I assumed it was my own furnace that had blown up.”
Firefighters responded to the incident.
The natural gas supply to between 400 and 500 nearby homes had been shut off, with Gina Jones’ villa bungalow across the street from the destroyed townhouse among them, the police said Thursday night, according to the report.
Fire department officials are investigating the incident.
“ATCO is continuing to work with the Calgary Fire Department on the investigation,” said the company.
