Wildfire season

May 28, 2024

Wildfire season has begun and we are actively monitoring potential impacts to our regulated facilities.

Since most CER-regulated pipelines are underground, they are at a lower risk of being affected by fires. Pipelines can also be shut down quickly if a fire gets close to above-ground facilities.

CER-regulated companies must develop, implement and maintain an emergency management program that anticipates, prevents, manages and mitigates conditions during an emergency that could adversely affect property, the environment or the safety of workers or the public. This includes developing emergency plans for natural hazard events such as floods and wildfires.

Our main priority is keeping people and the environment safe by ensuring that regulated companies take all necessary actions to do the same.

Watch our video below to learn more about pipeline safety and wildfires.

Pipeline Safety: Wildfires

Transcript:

What happens when fires get close to pipelines?

Most run underground

The earth above acts like insulation, reducing the risk from fires

They are designed so they can be shut down quickly if a fire gets close

On top of that, the companies we oversee must have a plan for any potential hazard

Including wildfires

These often include plans for high-risk areas and prevention activities like:

  • Covering the ground above the pipeline with material like gravel that doesn’t burn
  • Making sure big plants and trees don’t grow too near the pipeline
  • 24/7 monitoring of pipeline operations
  • And aerial patrols.

Companies must practice how they would respond in an actual emergency

We take part in these exercises

So do other parts of the government and Indigenous communities

For more information, visit our website.

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