Progress in damage-prevention efforts continued in 2025 as damage to underground gas lines in British Columbia declined again, with FortisBC recording about 760 incidents, a 26.5 per cent reduction since 2021.
In the Shuswap, Fortis BC recorded 10 incidents in Salmon Arm, four in Chase and three in Sorrento.
As spring projects ramp up across the province, FortisBC is reminding residents and contractors to contact BC 1 Call before digging or disturbing the ground, and to follow safe excavation practices to help prevent avoidable damage.
“While gas lines are installed to regulated depths, factors like landscaping, grading and erosion can change how close they are to the surface over time,” Ada Nadison, public safety program manager at FortisBC said.
She added that an individual should never assume how deep a gas line is.
“Whether you’re installing fence posts, planting trees or grading a yard, you should submit a free BC 1 Call request to receive a map showing the approximate location of gas lines, and dig safely by hand to help protect yourself, your neighbours an essential energy infrastructure.”
According to FortisBC, approximately 55 per cent of damage incidents occurred when BC 1 Call was not contacted before digging last year. Of the remaining incidents, most involved situations where mapping information was not properly used or BC Gas Safety regulated digging practices, such as digging by hand to expose lines before using mechanized equipment, were not fully followed.
“When proper planning happens upfront, including requesting and properly using BC 1 Call mapping information, damage incidents drop significantly,” Nadison added. “That is why we work closely with contractors year-round through training sessions, site visits and ongoing conversations to help ensure safe digging practices are clearly understood and consistently applied.”
FortisBC said British Columbians rely on the utility to deliver safe, reliable energy every day. Preventing damage to underground infrastructure is a shared responsibility, it said, and it starts with contacting BC 1 Call before digging.
