Hundreds Left In The Cold After Milton Fire
Posted December 15, 2010 3:46 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
500 homes were still without heat Wednesday night after a gas-fuelled blaze at a townhouse complex in Milton.
A Union Gas employee was working at the site near Bennett and Clarke Blvds., when his backhoe cut an underground line, sparking the fire around 2pm.
Strong winds made it a tough battle for firefighters who kept a steady flow of water pouring onto surrounding units.
“The gas line provided some challenges to the fire crews because we were trying to shut off the fuel in association with the efforts from Union Gas. That was a challenge that took a couple of hours to do,” said Milton Fire Chief Brian Ellsworth.
A warming centre has been set up at nearby E.C. Drury High School.
The backhoe operator received minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Union Gas was working to cap the leak. Officials were hoping to have gas restored by the end of Wednesday or overnight.
Damage to the home is being estimated at half a million dollars. The house was home to a couple with two children.
