UPDATE: Residents can return home following gas leak

VERNON – Residents can return home now that a gas leak downtown Vernon is contained. 

Seventy-two residents in the 27 Avenue and 35 Street area were evacuated Wednesday morning and 299 customers including Blue Moon Esso and the Vernon Family Doctors Medical Centre were cut off from power and gas while crews attended the site. Power was restored as of 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, however approximately 317 customers will be without gas until Fortis B.C. finishes repairing the damage, possibly around midnight tonight. 

In a press release City of Vernon spokesperson Tanya Laing Gahr said the leak began as a result of road construction in the area. She said all 72 people were evacuated from the Ukrainian Village Apartments. Other residents in the surrounding area were asked to stay inside with windows and doors closed while crews assessed the leak.

Air conditioned buses were on site for the comfort of displaced residents while they waited to return to their homes.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was updated at 11:45 to include new information from the City of Vernon, again at 2:27 p.m. to say the evacuation was lifted and again at 4:49 p.m. to say power was restored.