Another TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. explosion in Northern Ontario

Shortly after 11 p.m. last night, people near the Northern Ontario community of Beardmore, Ontario began calling in reports to the OPP of flames reaching hundreds of feet into the night sky.  A rupture in a TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. natural gas pipeline caused an explosion so large that the fire could be seen by airplanes passing overhead. 

Several hundred nearby residents were forced from their homes, but the fire burnt itself out after a few hours.  TransCanada's crew, which arrived on scene within an hour of the OPP, advised that the danger zone was within 1 km of the pipeline.  Reports say that the National Energy Board (NEB) is sending two inspectors from Calgary to investigate the scene.

In September, 2009, less than 18 months ago, another section of a TransCanada gas pipeline exploded near Englehart, Ontario.  Witnesses to that explosion described the sound of a jumbo jet crash.  The 2009 rupture happened on the 36 inch diameter main line.