Wrigley (Sep 29/06) - Residents in Wrigley could finally be able to buy gas this week in the community after more than a month without fuel.

The only gas station in the community, Hardisty Petroleum, hasn't sold gas or diesel since the Wrigley Spiritual Gathering which took place from August 10 to 12, said Mike Canadien, the senior administrative officer for Pehdzeh Ki First Nation.

Neither Chief Tim Lennie or shareholders from Wild Rose Resources Ltd. would say why the fuel was no longer being transported to the community, but it seems that whatever caused the disruption in fuel has been resolved.

Fuel is being brought into the community this week, said a shareholder with Wild Rose Resources Ltd.

The freeze up inventory of gas, diesel and heating fuel is scheduled to be delivered.

Wild Rose Resources Ltd. bought out Hardisty Petroleum last week. Hardisty Petroleum, which opened for business on July 10, 2002, privatized the fuel service that had been previously run by the territorial government.

The founding partners of the business were Gabe Hardisty and Walter Blondin.

During the fuel shortage, no public building, home or government building was without heating fuel, said the shareholder.

The shareholder declined to comment on the reasons why the gas and diesel supply was allowed to run dry in the community.

"We'll continue to provide the service until we can't or we choose not to be their any longer," he said.

Gabe Hardisty couldn't be reached for comment before the paper went to press.

To deal with the shortage, Canadien said people travelling in and out of Wrigley have been taking jerry cans to other communities such as Fort Simpson and bringing them back full.

People travelling on the Mackenzie River from Tulita were advised by Wrigley band staff to bring their own gas or they wouldn't have enough to return home.

The band brought barrels of fuel into the community to use for municipal service vehicles, Canadien said.

The shortage left community members asking questions about why the fuel supply was disrupted, said Chief Tim Lennie.

The band was unable to take much action towards the problem, said Lennie.

The matter was brought to the attention of MLA Kevin Menicoche and MP Dennis Bevington when they visited the community earlier this month. "There wasn't a lot we could do because it is a privately owned business," Lennie said.

Over the past year, fuel has run out a number of times but never for a period this long. Prior to this event the longest shortage lasted approximately 10 days, Lennie said.