B.C. oil and gas companies say they're prepared for wildfires
CBC News | Posted: April 22, 2016 1:30 PM | Last Updated: April 22, 2016
Oil and Gas Commission says no energy facilities were damaged in this week's wildfires
This week's wildfires in northern B.C. threatened not just homes but also pipelines and gas wells.
The wildfires came within 10 kilometres of 72 oil and gas facilities. Crews had to shut down pipelines, gas wells, and work camps that lay in harm's way.
"They would empty the facility or pipeline and vacate the premises and ensure there were no combustibles available for the fire," said Geoff Morrison, a spokesperson for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
Morrison says being ready for wildfires is just part of doing business in the northeast.
"I do know that some activities have emptied some of their pipelines in anticipation there might be a fire that would put them in harm's way," he said.
Some crews faced tough journeys to safety, he says. A few of the highways in the area were closed due to a lack of visibility.
"The smoke was very thick — some of the roads were impassable," he said.
B.C.'s Oil and Gas Commission says the emergency plans worked — no energy facilities were damaged in this week's wildfires.
With files from Betsy Trumpener.