Worker dead after ‘possible explosion,’ fire at natural gas plant in northern B.C.

A Tourmaline natural gas facility in northeastern B.C. is shown in this image from the company's website (tourmalineoil.com)

One contractor is dead and another is injured after a fire at a natural gas plant north of Fort St. John, B.C.

The fire broke out Monday evening around 6 p.m., when workers “struck a pipe” at the Tourmaline Gundy c-60 gas plant, according to a statement from the B.C. Energy Regulator.

The fire was extinguished shortly after midnight Tuesday morning, Tourmaline said in an update on its website.

“We have confirmed that a contractor worker was fatally injured and another contractor worker is being treated for injuries in hospital,” the company said. “We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of the individuals.”

The B.C. Energy Regulator, WorkSafeBC and the RCMP have all sent investigators to the scene. The company said it is working with “appropriate authorities” on the investigation.

The Gundy gas plant is located roughly 150 kilometres north of Fort St. John, and the fire occurred “in a remote area,” according to Tourmaline.

While the plant is “undamaged” after the incident, it was shut down when the fire broke out and remained shut down as of Tuesday afternoon.

“Tourmaline’s primary focus remains on the safety and well-being of onsite personnel and mitigating risk to the environment,” the company said.

In its own statement on the matter, Fort St. John RCMP said it was called for “a possible explosion at a pipeline” and added that there is no evidence of any criminality.