Mistake by copper thieves forces evacuation in Maple Ridge
Posted March 3, 2012 10:09 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS1130) – A mistake by copper thieves forced the evacuation of a Maple Ridge neighbourhood overnight.
Thinking they were cutting through copper wire, the suspects cut two gas lines at an abandoned home on 221st Street near Selkirk Avenue.
“People for about 350 feet in every direction were evacuated from their residences,” explains Maple Ridge Fire Chief Dane Spence. “The majority of them attended a reception centre that was set up in the Baptist Towers on 222nd Street and Lougheed Hwy.”
No one was hurt, but crews had to wait a few hours until the gas dissipated before they could enter the home.
“BC Hydro attended as well, and they cut the power to the general area so that we could eliminate possible ignition sources from that house and the nearby homes,” says Spence. “This was a very, very dangerous situation.”
Buses were brought in so neighbours weren’t waiting outside in the cold and rain. Police tell News1130 Mayor Ernie Daykin also showed up to support neighbours while they waited. Residents were allowed back into their homes around 3:00 a.m.
The thieves were able to get away.
