DTE GAS COMPANY

Incident Narrative

AT 20:07, ON THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014, DTE GAS COMPANY (DTE GAS) RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF AN EXPLOSION INVOLVING A RESIDENCE AT 19717 FAIRPORT STREET IN DETROIT, WAYNE COUNTY, MI. AT 20:26, DTE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ARRIVED AT THE SITE AND CONFIRMED THE EXPLOSION AND REPORTED THE GAS METER WAS ON FIRE. AT 21:50, DTE GAS SERVICE LINE WAS TESTED FOR LEAKS BETWEEN THE MAIN NEAR THE STREET TO THE METER ASSEMBLY AT THE OUTSIDE BUILDING WALL USING AIR AT A PRESSURE OF 2 PSIG FOR DURATION OF 10 MINUTES. THE SERVICE LINE WAS FOUND TO BE AIR-TIGHT AS A RESULT OF THIS TEST, DEMONSTRATING THE SERVICE LINE WAS NOT LEAKING PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION. DTE GAS PERFORMED UNDERGROUND LEAK CHECKS OVER THE SERVICE LINES AND THE DISTRIBUTION MAIN IN THE AREA AROUND 19717 FAIRPORT; THERE WERE TRACE INDICATIONS OVER THE MAIN OF 0.5% GAS IN AIR, WHICH IS WELL BELOW THE LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT. THERE WERE NO READINGS ALONG THE SERVICE LINE BETWEEN THE MAIN AND THE RESIDENCE. AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LOCKED SERVICE VALVE AT THE OUTSIDE METER MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN AND TURNED ON BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON(S). DTE GAS RECORDS INDICATED ON FEBRUARY 18, 2014, THE ELECTRIC AND GAS SERVICE WERE TURNED OFF AT THE REQUEST OF PROPERTY OWNER OF RECORD. ON MARCH 26, 2014, ONLY THE ELECTRIC SERVICE WAS RESTORED AS REQUESTED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES; HOWEVER FOUR ADULTS AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE EXPLOSION. THE PROPERTY OWNER STATED THERE WAS NO LANDLORD/TENANT AGREEMENT AT THIS LOCATION. THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME AND THE TRACE INDICATIONS WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE EXPLOSION.