PALATKA GAS AUTH

Incident Narrative

AT 11:54 PM PGA'S ON-CALL EMPLOYEE WAS NOTIFIED BY PUTNAM COUNTY'S DISPATCHER, BY PHONE, OF A GAS RELATED INCIDENT AT 1705 WASHINGTON STREET. PGA FOUND A FORD EXPEDITION HAD RUN OVER A LARGE BUSH, THROUGH A 6"" HIGH WROUGHT IRON FENCE AND STRUCK AN AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER UNIT WHICH WAS FORCED INTO A 2-METER MANIFOLD SEVERING THE NIPPLE ON THE OUTLET SIDE OF THE SERVICE VALVE AND BEFORE THE HOUSE REGULATOR. THE GAS IGNITED AND BURNED A PORTION OF THE DUPLEX. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, THE RESIDENTS OF THE DUPLEX EXITED THE UNITS ON THEIR OWN. THE OCCUPANT(S) OF THE VEHICLE FLED THE SCENE AND THE POLICE ADVISED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPORTED STOLEN EARLIER. THE GAS WAS SHUT OFF AT THE SERVICE VALVE WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY LOCKED AND A PLUG INSTALLED ON THE OUTLET SIDE. THE AREA WAS SURVEYED FOR GAS LEAKAGE WITH A SENSIT GAS DETECTOR WITH NO LEAKAGE FOUND; A BAR HOLE SURVEY WAS NOT CONDUCTED THAT NIGHT DUE TO HIGH STANDING WATER. THE AREA WAS RESURVEYED AND BAR-HOLE SURVEY CONDUCTED THE NEXT MORNING AFTER THE STANDING WATER SUBSIDED AND AGAIN NO GAS WAS DETECTED.