Evacuation order called off after natural gas leak isolated in Dartmouth

An evacuation order over a natural gas leak in Dartmouth, N.S., on Tuesday afternoon has ended.

Halifax Regional Municipality's notification, hfxALERT, sent a notice at 1:48 p.m. AT saying the leak had been isolated and the evacuation order rescinded. It said there was "no danger to the public at this time."

At 1:21 p.m., the provincial emergency alert system was used to let people know about the gas leak on Monique Avenue in the Highfield Park Drive area.

Shortly after the provincial emergency alert was sent out, police on the scene were telling people they could return home. The provincial alert was called off just after 2 p.m.

District Chief Brad Connors of Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency told CBC News that they were called about the gas leak at 11:47 a.m. He said the department's hazmat team is stationed near the area and was there quickly to help.

Connors said fire crews, with the help of police, evacuated a portion of the community. He said Heritage Gas then shut down the line and crews began going into impacted homes with meters to test oxygen levels.

"With natural gas, there is always a risk [of an explosion]. If it finds a source of ignition and the fuel-oxygen mixture is correct, yes. Fortunately for us, we do everything we can, along with Heritage Gas, to mitigate that as much as possible. That's why we initially evacuated the area," Connors said.

Most Liya, who lives on Monique Avenue, said the incident happened near her home. She said the leak occurred while a speed bump was being installed on the street.

"The [gas] just leaked and it started going all around and you could hear the noises, like a really really loud noise. And the workers who were working here got really scared," Liya said.