B.C. extends gas rationing, state of emergency after floods

British Columbia is extending fuel rationing until Dec. 14 until the Trans Mountain pipeline is back online after a series of devastating storms in the southern part of the province.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the province is also extending the state of emergency until the same date in order to ensure emergency services have the resources they need.

The pipeline has been shut down since Nov. 14, when a storm known as an atmospheric river hammered parts of southern B.C., flooding communities, farmland and washing away roads and bridges.

Energy Minister Bruce Ralston says the pipeline provides most of the fuel for B.C.'s Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, which is now being shipped in by rail from Alberta and on barges from the United States.

Drivers have been asked to continue limiting their purchase of fuel to 30 litres per visit to a gas station.

A third storm in the last few days is forecast to move into B.C. late Monday and Tuesday.