TransGas pumping station explodes, burns near Prud'Homme

RCMP said aTransGas pumping station near Prud'Homme, 70 kilometresnortheast of Saskatoon,exploded Saturday,and a fire continues to burn at the site.

Fire departments from Prud'Homme and Vonda are on scene and working with TransGas employees, but they have yet to be able to move onto the site and are working to contain the fire.

TransGas is the pipeline transmission and storage subsidiary of the Saskatchewan crown corporation.

Dave Burdeniuk, a spokesman forSaskEnergy,confirmed to CBC News that the fire was continuing to burn Saturdayat the pump station.

Burdeniuk said the stationis home to seven cavernsand the wellhead, which controls putting gas in to and taking gas out of the caverns. One cavern had a release of gas, and it was that release that ignited.

"That fire has caused damage, obviously to the wellhead and the building that is over top of the wellhead," he said, adding that he believes there is also damage to the surrounding area, but crews have not yetbeen ableto assess it.

Emergency systems engaged at site

According to Burdeniuk, theemergency systemsetup in the station worked asit was supposed to. It isolates and shutsdown the other caverns located there.

"That gas was then vented to the atmosphere safely, and we've set up a perimeter onemile around that facility just to keep anyone away. We're working with first responders and the priority right now is to get that fire out," he said.

Burdeniuk said that no one was at the station at the time of the fire, because it is an automated station, sono one was injured.

It may have to burn for a while before we can safely get in and get that fire out.- Dave Burdeniuk, spokesman forSaskEnergy

"We would only ever have people in here evenings or weekends if it was minus 40 out, just to make sure the system would be working in winter time," he said.

He said this station wasnot currently supplying anyone in the province with natural gas.

RCMP haveevacuatedthe area within a three-kilometreradius of the pumping station as a precaution. According to SaskEnergy, there are about six farms affected.

Burdeniuksaidwith the perimeter that has been set up, there is no danger to anyone outside that area, but he doesn't know how much longer the gas will be burning.

"I don't know how full this cavern was, so I don't know how long this fire can burn for," he said.

"It may have to burn for a while before we can safely get in and get that fire out."

Local roadways have been closed, but all highways in the area remain open.

The RCMP and SaskPower are asking the public to stay away from the site.

Prudhomme Fire

10 years ago

Duration 0:14

A fire at a TransGas pump station near Prud'Homme continues to burn.