Most residents and business owners affected by an evacuation order in Whatley are being slowly allowed back into their properties.
Municipal officials say there has been no gas found at any other location other than 15 Erie Street North in Wheatley, clearing the way for the restrictions to be eased.
In all, 52 people were displaced after hydrogen sulphide was detected on Monday at the same site of a gas leak in early June.
“Shortly after the lunch-hour, we will be touch with business owners and residents who were evacuated from the area to start working with them to have them getting back into their properties,” says acting municipal CAO Cathy Hoffman.
Emergency services personnel and public health inspectors will be on site to assist with the process. Hoffman says gas monitoring will continue at 15 Erie Street North and will be reassessed every 24 hours.
In the wake of the original gas leak in early June, an evacuation order was in place for two and a half weeks. Hoffman says the turnaround this time has been much faster, thanks to their experience the last time around.
“We were able to quickly make phone calls to those company who are professionals and experts in identifying and testing the gas, we were able to get samples very quickly this time, which we weren’t able to do the first time, and that has helped us expedite being able to get information back from those organizations to understand what the nature of this gas is, what might be pointing to the source of it, and where we can go next.”
Hoffman says very preliminary results indicate the gas it is thermogenic in nature, indicating it is likely originating from a gas well. The results have yet to be confirmed by the province. However, if that is confirmed, the burden of responsibility would fall to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Municipal officials will be in talks with the province over the next few days to determine next steps.
Fire fighters have remained on site since Monday morning, and will be assisting those displaced get back into their homes and businesses.
“With the new gas detection equipment on site, there is no longer a requirement for fire to be present,” Fire Chief Chris Case says. “We will be moving back to a response focus, so if the detection alarms go off again, we will return and we will provide emergency coverage as we have over the past few days.”
