INDIANA GAS CO INC
gas_distribution Incident — MUNCIE, IN — November 24, 2014
Incident Information
| Incident Date | November 24, 2014 |
| Operator | INDIANA GAS CO INC |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | MUNCIE |
| State | IN |
| County | DELAWARE |
| Coordinates | 40.20874, -85.38235 |
Cause
| Cause | OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE |
| Subcause | ELECTRICAL ARCING FROM OTHER EQUIPMENT OR FACILITY |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $2,000 |
| Emergency Response | $1,600 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"ON 11/24/14 AT 10:03 AM, PROPRIETOR AT 1705 GRANVILLE AVENUE, MUNCIE, INDIANA ( A PLUMBING AND HEATING COMPANY) CALLED VECTREN AND REPORTED A FIRE NEAR THE GAS METER. VECTREN FIRST RESPONDER ARRIVED AT 10:10 AM AND WORKED WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SECURE THE SITE. A VECTREN CONSTRUCTION CREW WAS DISPATCHED AND SQUEEZED OFF THE SERVICE STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS AT 11:05 AM. THE GAS SERVICE WAS THEN CUT/CAPPED AND RETIRED AT THE MAIN. THE BUILDING STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS SUSTAINED DAMAGE. BASED UPON OUR INVESTIGATION OF THIS INCIDENT, WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT AN ENERGIZED WIRE THAT RAN BETWEEN THE AFFECTED BUILDING AND AN ADJACENT COMMUNICATION TOWER USED BY THE PROPRIETOR HAD BEEN PLACED AGAINST THE OPERATOR'S SERVICE LINE. THE WIRE SHORTED TO GROUND CREATING AN ELECTRICAL ARC MELTING A .5 INCH BY .5 INCH HOLE IN THE PLASTIC SERVICE LINE AND WAS THE PROXIMATE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT. THE SUBJECT WIRE WAS NOT OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY VECTREN."
About This Pipeline Incident
Pipeline incident data is reported to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). All significant incidents involving fatalities, injuries, or property damage over $50,000 must be reported.