The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading a probe into a fire that occurred Sept. 17 at a drilling site for Enbridge’s reroute of its Line 5 oil and gas pipeline, as well as a Sept. 14 fire at the company’s office in Superior, according to a report by Wisconsin Public Radio.
The incidents come after an Aug. 25 truck mishap caused a gas leak along the Line 5 pipeline. More than 1 million gallons of natural gas liquids were released into the atmosphere, causing the evacuation of a nearby rural home.
Enbridge spokesperson Juli Kellner said while the company supports the public’s rights to peacefully express its views on energy, the two fires “were neither legal nor peaceful.”
“Illegal and unsafe acts by criminal saboteurs endanger themselves, the local community, first responders and our workers,” Kellner said.
“We take these incidents very seriously and will seek the prosecution of those individuals involved to the fullest extent of the law.”
Line 5, which was damaged when an unoccupied flatbed truck rolled into it, carries up to 23 million gallons of crude oil and natural gas liquids daily between Superior and Sarnia, Ontario, in Canada.
It returned to service on Sept. 14.
