CPS ENERGY

Incident Narrative

AN INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. THE TERRELL HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THE FEMALE HOMEOWNER WOKE UP AND NOTICED HER EYES BURNING A LITTLE AND SHE COULD SMELL AN ODOR. SHE WENT IN THE KITCHEN AND TURNED ON THE GAS STOVE (TOP) ON WHICH SAT A TEA KETTLE FILLED WITH WATER. SHE NOTICED THE BURNER FLAME WAS HIGHER THAN USUAL. SHE TURNED THE FLAME DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SHE TURNED AWAY FROM THE STOVE AND SUDDENLY NOTICED THAT SHE WAS ON THE GROUND WITH DEBRIS FALLING FROM THE CEILING AND FIRE AROUND HER. SHE TRIED TO GO TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE WHERE HER HUSBAND WAS SLEEPING BUT COULD NOT AND SO SHE WALKED THROUGH THE GARAGE TO GET OUTSIDE. THAT PORTION OF THE 1"" STEEL SERVICE WITH THE CRACK AT ITS THREADED END WAS BELOW GROUND AND AT LEAST TWO LAYERS OF CONCRETE WITH MORTAR AND SALTILLO TILE ABOVE THAT. THE TOP LAYER OF CONCRETE, MORTAR AND TILE WERE ALL INSTALLED AROUND THE RISER WITHOUT A SLEEVE OR SPACE TO ALLOW OR ACCOMMODATE FOR MOVEMENT CAUSED BY SHIFTING, SETTLING, EXPANDING OR CONTRACTING SOIL. THE BOTTOM LAYER OF CONCRETE HAD A VOID AROUND THE RISER WHICH SERVED AS A SLEEVE OR SPACE THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE FOR SUCH MOVEMENT. MOVING SOIL ACTING ON THE IMMOVABLE RISER ENCASED IN CONCRETE, MORTAR AND TILE MAY HAVE CAUSED THE CRACK AT THE THREADED END OF THE SERVICE LINE. INITIAL VISUAL METALLURGIC EXAMINATION OF THE CRACK AT THE THREADED END OF THE SERVICE DID NOT SHOW OBVIOUS SIGNS OF CORROSION. THE INTERIOR GAS PIPING OF THE HOUSE AND THE GAS APPLIANCES IN THE HOUSE HAVE NOT YET BEEN TESTED.