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Canadian Gas Pipeline Leak Triggers Evacuation

Canadian Gas Pipeline Leak Triggers Evacuation

A natural gas liquids leak from Enbridge’s Line 5 forced residents from their homes in northeastern Wisconsin after an unoccupied company truck rolled into an excavation site and struck the pipeline Tuesday.

The incident occurred in rural Iron County during work on a Line 5 valve project, according to reports from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Wisconsin Examiner.

Enbridge representative Juli Kellner said the unusual chain of events began with a parked semi-truck.

“This morning a parked, unoccupied semi-truck rolled into an open excavation site on a Line 5 valve project in rural northern Iron County, Wisconsin, striking the pipe and releasing Natural Gas Liquids,” Kellner said.

“No one was injured. As a precaution, nearby rural homes have been evacuated. The section of pipe was immediately isolated, and local emergency response crews are on site,” she added.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said gas was released into the air. Authorities had not provided an estimate of the amount released.


According to the Wisconsin Examiner, the truck rolled into the open excavation associated with the valve project and struck the transmission line, causing the release. The affected line was subsequently shut down.

By Wednesday, the response was still underway, and local authorities were warning members of the public to stay away.

The Iron County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook that there had been no reported injuries but that several precautions remained in effect.

“No injuries have been reported. As a precaution, nearby homes have been evacuated. The affected section of pipeline has been isolated, and local emergency responders and hazmat teams are on site,” the sheriff’s office said.

The response went beyond evacuations.

“Sitan Road is closed until further notice to allow emergency crews to safely respond. A temporary no-fly zone has also been established in the area,” the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities also shut off electricity in the affected area because of safety concerns and said arrangements were being made to help people dealing with the resulting power outage.

“The public is asked to avoid the area and follow instructions from emergency personnel,” the sheriff’s office said.

As of Wednesday, Enbridge personnel remained at the scene alongside local responders as work continued to stabilize the site.

The circumstances surrounding the accident leave an obvious question for investigators: How did a parked, unoccupied semi-truck begin moving and end up in an open excavation containing pipeline infrastructure?

Enbridge’s initial statement explained what happened after the truck moved, but it did not explain why the vehicle rolled in the first place.

The incident also immediately drew criticism from opponents of Line 5, including the Sierra Club of Wisconsin.


Jadine Sonoda, the organization’s campaign coordinator, connected the accident to its broader opposition to the pipeline and Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute project.

“This is yet another disaster by Enbridge and their Line 5 pipeline,” Sonoda told the Wisconsin Examiner.

Sonoda pointed specifically to recent legal arguments over the reroute and its potential effects on wetlands, waterways and nearby communities.

“Just last week, Enbridge argued in court that our concerns about the damage of the construction of the Line 5 reroute, on the wetlands, waters, and nearby communities were unwarranted,” Sonoda said.

“They argued that the project is complicated, but they’ve got it under control — yet days later, people are being evacuated from their homes due to poisonous natural gas in the air,” she continued.

Sonoda then called on Wisconsin officials and regulators to take action against the company.

“How many more disasters will it take for Wisconsin leaders to put a stop to this? How many, many people will be harmed before our state regulators finally hold this massive corporate polluter accountable?” she said.

Written by Mark Stevens - August 27, 2026