Pipeline rupture sparks wildfire in Yellowhead County

Alberta Wildfire says no communities are threatened by a wildfire caused by a rupture to a TC Energy Corp. natural gas pipeline system in Yellowhead County.

Twelve wildland firefighters, eight pieces of heavy equipment, airtankers and helicopters were working to extinguish the blaze, which was 12 hectares in size and classified “out of control” by early Tuesday afternoon.

TC Energy Corp. says it was actively responding to an incident that took place in the Obed area, about 40 kilometres northwest of Edson.

The Calgary-based pipeline company says its emergency response procedures were activated and the affected section of the pipeline was isolated and shut down. Yellowhead County confirmed in a social media post there was “no more leaking gas.”

TC Energy did not provide further details about the nature of the incident, adding it will do so as soon as more information becomes available.

Yellowhead County says officials are working with Alberta Wildfire to put out the remaining wildland fire, the cause of which is under investigation.

“There is no threat to the public, and crews continue to work on the scene, continuing containment and extinguishment of the remaining fire,” the county wrote on its Facebook page.

TC Energy’s NGTL pipeline system transports natural gas from Alberta and northeast B.C. to domestic and export markets. The system spans 24,631 kilometres and connects with TC Energy’s Canadian Mainline system, Foothills system and other third-party pipelines.

–With files from The Canadian Press