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WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO

gas_distribution Incident — BELTSVILLE, MD

Incident Information

Report Date—
OperatorWASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityBELTSVILLE
StateMD
CountyPRINCE GEORGES'
Coordinates39.05935, -76.88729

Cause

CauseOTHER INCIDENT CAUSE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries1

Costs

Property Damage—
Lost Commodity—
Public/Private Damage—
Emergency Response—
Environmental Remediation—
Other Costs—

Location Map

Incident Narrative

WASHINGTON GAS WAS NOTIFIED AT 2:06 PM ON 8/2/2013 OF THE IGNITION OF AN UNDETERMINED VAPOR AT A STORM SEWER INLET IN FRONT OF 12340 CONWAY RD., BELTSVILLE, MD. THE WASHINGTON GAS FIRST RESPONDER ARRIVED ON SITE AT 2:35 PM. THE PRINCE GEORGES' COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ON SITE AND IN CONTROL OF THE INCIDENT SITE. THE AREA OF THE INCIDENT IS A COMMERCIAL/ INDUSTRIAL SITE. APPROXIMATELY 45 PEOPLE HAD BEEN EVACUATED FROM BUILDINGS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. TWO INDIVIDUALS WERE INJURED BY THE FLASH FIRE. ONE INDIVIDUAL WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. THE SECOND INDIVIDUAL WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR TREATMENT OF SECOND DEGREE BURNS. WASHINGTON GAS PERSONNEL PERFORMED LEAK SURVEYS IN THE AREA OF THE IGNITION AND IN A WIDENING AREA ATTEMPTING TO VERIFY THE INVOLVEMENT OF NATURAL GAS FROM A FACILITY. BAR AND TEST HOLES WERE PUT DOWN OVER WASHINGTON GAS FACILITIES IN THE AREA AND ADDITIONAL LEAK CHECKS WERE PERFORMED IN AND AROUND BUILDINGS IN THE AREA. WASHINGTON GAS PERSONNEL VALVED OFF A FOUR INCH GAS MAIN AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAIGLE RD AND OLD BALTIMORE PIKE. THE MAIN WAS EXPOSED AND A PRESSURE TEST CONDUCTED 560 FEET FROM THE MAIN DEADEND. THE PRESSURE TEST DID NOT HOLD PRESSURE. A FIBER OPTIC CAMERA INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED ON THE GAS MAIN. AN INTRUSION WAS NOTED 76 FEET FROM THE DEADEND. FURTHER EXCAVATION REVEALED A ROCK IMPINGEMENT CAUSING A RELEASE AT THIS LOCATION. THE GAS MAIN WAS REPLACED. CAMERA INSPECTIONS WERE ALSO CONDUCTED ON SANITARY AND STORM SEWER FACILITIES IN THE AREA. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES AND A SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT WILL BE FILED. ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION BY WASHINGTON GAS AND THE CONSULTING FORENSIC ENGINEERING FIRM ENGAGED FOR THIS INVESTIGATION HAVE NOT FOUND A MIGRATION PATH FROM THE DAMAGED WASHINGTON GAS FACILITY DESRCIBED ABOVE TO THE SITE OF THE FLASH FIRE. THE SOURCE AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE VAPOR INVOLVED IN THE FLASH FIRE ON 8/2/2014 HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION HAS PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT IS THE FINAL REPORT FOR THIS INCIDENT.

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.

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