Achi news desk-
Alberta’s forestry and parks minister said the RCMP’s national security investigation team is part of an investigation into what caused a pipeline to rupture and catch fire west of Edmonton earlier this week.
On Tuesday, wildfires were ignited after a natural gas pipeline ruptured about 40 kilometers northwest of Edson, Alta. Since then the fire has been considered under control.
“We have no indication of any kind of cause on that fire yet; the investigation is ongoing,” Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said at a wildfire news conference Thursday morning. “The case is being investigated by the RCMP’s national security investigation team.
“My understanding is that since the case is unknown, that’s standard practice for them to come in on anything that’s unknown.”
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Global News has reached out to the RCMP for more information. On its website, the RCMP states that it has a wide range of mandates and responsibilities related to national security. It says its national security criminal investigations program includes protecting critical infrastructure and managing critical incidents.
Officials say the investigation into what caused the TC Energy pipeline to break could take months or even years.
The Canadian Energy Regulator had investigators on site Wednesday. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is also investigating the incident.
The rupture sparked a fire that could be seen for kilometres, sending large flames and plumes of smoke into the sky.
No injuries were reported, and officials said the fire never posed a threat to any nearby communities.
“I want to commend the Yellowhead County Fire Department, industry and our wildfire team for the timely manner in which this fire was brought under control,” Loewen said Thursday.
“Sharing information quickly between all parties facilitated an effective response to wildfires.”
The wildfire caused by the rupture in the pipeline is located approximately 28 kilometers north-east of Lyn Obed. More than 30 firefighters were expected to be in the area on Thursday to continue working on the wildfire.
— with files from The Canadian Press
– more to come…
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