Natural gas leak near Cornwall, Ont. resolved: TC Energy

Crews worked to close a major gas leak at a natural gas pumping station near Cornwall, Ont. in the early hours of Saturday morning.

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TC Energy, the company that owns the pumping station, reported the incident at 5:40 a.m. in the Municipality of Martintown on County Road 20, about 100 kilometres southeast of Ottawa. 

A video sent to CTV News by a viewer showed a large plume of natural gas spurting into the air.

An emergency response procedure was immediately activated following the incident, TC Energy told CTV News Ottawa in a statement.

South Glengarry Fire Chief, Dave Robertson, says two crews consisting of seven firefighters and police officers responded to the site after receiving multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting an explosion.

"What we found was natural gas venting from the location. Our observations were done at some distance, approximately two kilometers, and signs of natural gas venting, took quite a distance into the atmosphere, probably about a height of 30 to 40 metres," he said.

Robertson said the plant was not staffed at the time and there were no injuries. 

Roads in the area were closed for about two to three hours as crews worked to close the leak.

Residents in the area said they heard what sounded like an explosion and could smell a strong odour of natural gas.

"It was like a roaring noise, sort of like a jet engine," said John Smith, who lives in the area.

"I thought it was a strong wind at first because of the freezing rain warning, but as soon as you came outside, it was obvious. It wasn't wind. There was no wind here."

Marilyn Blackwood, who also lives in te area, said she called police as soon as she heard the noise.

"I heard this horrible noise that sounded like a train going by," she said.

Control of the site was returned to TC Energy after the affected area was isolated shortly before 7:20 a.m.

The company says the incident did not affect commercial operations at the station and systems are operating normally.

Officials are reminding people to call 9-1-1 anytime they smell natural gas, which has an odour similar to rotten eggs. 

"If you do smell natural gas within a building within your home, evacuate your home and call 9-1-1 from the exterior," Robertson said.

With files from CTV News Ottawa's Natalie van Rooy