Emergency lights flashed and sirens echoed as dozens of Lac La Biche residents were forced out of their south-side homes on Saturday at 7 p.m. as a precaution after a natural gas line was ruptured. Fire officials say a car backing into a driveway along 92 Ave. just west of Hwy 36 clipped a residential gas meter and sent gas rushing into the night air and residents of 20 homes rushing for safety. Emergency officials were on scene just minutes after the call came in and quickly cordoned off the area. Lac La Biche Fire Department member Shane Bair said the evacuation order was made as a precaution in case of an explosion and to keep residents away from the noxious gas. Emergency officials say they caught a break when they discovered the break in the gas line was above a shut-off valve, so the leak was isolated quickly. Two hours after the initial call, residents were allowed to return to their homes. No one was injured. Check the full story in Tuesday's POST
