Fraser Valley digging incidents involving gas lines spike during spring work season: FortisBC

CHILLIWACK/ABBOTSFORD – FortisBC is reminding residents, contractors and landscapers to contact BC 1 Call before spring landscaping projects begin amid company data that shows an average of two “digging” incidents per month in both Chilliwack and Abbotsford.

In a statement, the utility is reminding residents to help reduce the amount of damage to underground gas lines in British Columbia. While there’s been a 26.5 per cent reduction in the number of digging incidents since 2021, Chilliwack and Abbotsford each had 24 digging-related incidents in 2025. Altogether, there were 760 digging incidents in B.C. in 2025, and these types of incidents spike during the spring landscaping season.

“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,” said Ada Nadison, public safety program manager at FortisBC. “You 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 and essential energy infrastructure.”

In 2025, damage incidents were concentrated in regions with the highest levels of construction and ground disturbance activity, with approximately 39 per cent occurring in Metro Vancouver, 20 per cent in the Thompson-Okanagan and 14 per cent on Vancouver Island. Among damage incidents caused by third‑party ground disturbance in 2025, contractors and professional workers accounted for around 69 per cent of damage incidents, while homeowners were responsible for about 21 per cent. The remaining incidents involved municipalities, utilities or other parties.