Pipeline explosion near Prince George, B.C., not criminal: RCMP

A natural gas explosion thatshut down two pipelinesand forced evacuations in northern B.C. is not criminal, the RCMP has found.

A statement said the investigation into Tuesday's explosion northeast of Prince George has been turned over to the Transportation Safety Board (TSB).

The36-inch Enbridge line exploded in Shelley, B.C., at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. A second, smaller line was shut down as a precaution but has since reopened at 80 per cent capacity.

A bright,orange fireball from the explosion could be seen for kilometres and homes within the vicinity were evacuated as a precaution. Residents,who said theexplosion sounded likethunder,were allowed to return about two hours later.

RCMP,Enbridge, and the National Energy Board will continue to help the TSB with its investigation.

Investigators are still searching for a cause of the blast.

Supply still limited

FortisBC, the company that depends on the Enbridge line for about 85 per cent of the gas it delivers to its one million customers, has asked British Columbiansto avoid any "non-essential"natural gas use in light of the explosion.

A statement said supply across the provincewill continue to be limited as the larger, damaged pipeline is still being repaired.

Residents can conserve gas by turning down their thermostats, turning off fireplaces andreducing use of gas-powered hot water and cooking appliances.

Doug Stout, vice-president of market developmentwith FortisBC, said the Lower Mainland could see a four to eight-cent jump in gas prices as a result of the possible shortage.

Operations across several industries have been shut down to conserve energy:

• Canfor, a forest products company,has temporarily closed two of its operations in Prince George.
• Lantic Inc., a sugar refinery with operations in Vancouver, hasbeen asked to cease operations.

RCMP said there was no damage to anything other than the pipelineand no one was injured.

With files from Yvette Brend, WilFundal, Andrew Kurjata and Lien Yeung

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