THE GAS COMPANY

Incident Narrative

HAWAI`IGAS' DISPATCHER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT (HFD) INFORMING US OF A FIRE AT 87-2135 HELELUA PLACE, UNITS 3 & 4. WE SENT OUT OUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO RESPOND. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE METER SET LEANING TO THE LEFT SIDE. THE 3/4"" NIPPLE ON THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF THE SERVICE COCK WAS CRACKED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE PRIOR TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ARRIVING. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE METER AND INSTALLED A RUBBER STOPPER ON THE RISER TO STOP THE GAS LEAK. THE METER SET WAS INSTALLED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE WATER HEATER ENCLOSURE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE WATER HEATER ENCLOSURE AND BURNED THE EXTERIOR SIDING ON THE 2ND FLOOR. AS A RESULT OF HFD EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, 2 UNITS SUSTAINED WATER DAMAGE. BYSTANDERS REPORTED SEEING KIDS STANDING ON THE METER SET AND JUMPING TO THE FENCE. THIS WOULD BE A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION WHY THE METER SET WAS LEANING TO THE LEFT SIDE AND COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE CRACKED NIPPLE. THE 3/4"" GALVANIZED RISER WAS IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO NOTICABLE CORROSION. ACCORDING TO THE HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT'S INCIDENT REPORT (2013-0001443-000), THE ESTIMATED PROPERTY DAMAGE IS $35,000. THE REPORT ALSO NOTES THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS SOMEONE STEPPED ONTO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE METER ASSEMBLY TRYING TO GET OVER A 6 FOOT WOODEN FENCE. THE WEIGHT OF THE PERSON CAUSED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PIPING TO CRACK OPEN, WHICH CREATED A LARGE GAS LEAK. THE PROPANE FILLED THE SURROUNDING AREA AND EVENTUALLY REACHED THE PILOT LIGHT OF THE GAS WATER HEATERIN THE CLOSET AND IGNITED.