By paNOW Staff

Crews shut off primary source of Sask. gas fire

Oct 14, 2014 | 7:46 AM

Crews are using water cannons and heat shields at a natural gas fire near Prud’homme, northeast of Saskatoon. 

Late Monday evening, Safety Boss, a Calgary company that specializes in snuffing oil and gas fires, were able to shut off a side valve. 

“Almost instantly it went from almost a roaring jet engine sound and a 60-foot flame down to almost a lapping flame about 12 feet tall. That was primary source of the gas leak,” Dave Burdeniuk, spokesperson for SaskEnergy, said. 

The situation is stable but not quite secure. The cabin pressure increased after the side valve was shut off which started minor secondary fires. 

Burdeniuk said people near the site Tuesday will still see a flame. The fire could continue to burn for several more days. 

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

20h ago

Going Global

P.A.'s Zablocki named to Team Canada for U18 Women's World Championships

20h ago

Election 2024

Birch Hills staff won't share election decision

21h ago

Currently 13 people from four farms are out of their homes. SaskEnergy will be reviewing their status Tuesday. 

Crews have determined there has been no contamination released in the air. 

“We monitored air quality continuously throughout this and there was nothing within that one mile radius,” Burdeniuk said. 

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. SaskEnergy expects the cost of the fire to be expensive but Burdeniuk said it will not impact their ability to provide heat this winter. 

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow