THUNDER BAY — Due to a growing number of calls involving broken gas lines, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue will now charge fees to respond to such calls.
The city announced on Tuesday that Thunder Bay Fire Rescue will now charge a fee per vehicle, per hour to respond to broken gas line calls where a homeowner or contractor did not request a locate.
The fee is based on the Ministry of Transportation rate of $543.04 per vehicle, per hour.
“When locates aren’t requested it causes a delay in the repair of the gas line,” said Fire Chief Greg Hankkio in a statement issued by the city. “When a line is broken, another locate needs to be done so other utilities aren’t disrupted. It’s also an unnecessary use of emergency services.”
According to a statement by the city, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue responded to eight calls of gas lines being damaged or severed in the last 18 months.
The statement goes on to say that each of these calls could have been prevented if a locate was completed prior to digging.
Homeowners and contractors are required by law to have utility lines located prior to digging on any project.
To request a locate, Ontario One Call should be contacted a minimum of five business days before digging starts. Homeowners can visit OntarioOneCall.ca or phone (800) 400-2255. Homeowners and contractors are asked to wait for the utilities to complete their locates before starting any work.
