Gas smell causes afternoon chaos
Posted Feb 6, 2014 04:32:37 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA — Planned Work by Enbridge sent a strong smell of gas blowing through the city, prompting a number of evacuations and panic on Thursday afternoon.
The stench was caused by Enbridge, as it vented some of its gas lines in the west end.
However many people were unaware of the scheduled work, and as the scent wafted throughout the city, multiple buildings and homes were evacuated for fear of gas leaks.
“It was vile – like we ran,” said Centrepointe resident Linda, who arrived home to the smell. “I still have the headache and I can’t get the taste out of my mouth.”
Meanwhile nearby Algonquin College was evacuated and city staff at Ben Franklin Place and the Mary Pitt Centre were told to go home.
The natural gas was smelled by people as far as Parliament Hill and in Gatineau.
Many residents in Centrepointe were panicking and stood in the street dialing 9-1-1 because they didn’t know what was going on.
“Why was there no notification and why are we in this situation?” asked Linda. “This is a disgrace.”
Enbridge said the wind likely caused the smell to blanket the city and apologized for the scare.
