ENSTAR NATURAL GAS CO

Incident Narrative

ENSTAR NATURAL GAS COMPANY EMPLOYEES RESPONDED TO A CALL THAT A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE WAS ON FIRE AT 39395 HALLELUJAH TRAIL, SOLDOTNA, AK ON 8/30/12. THE METER SET WAS ON FIRE AS THE HDPE SERVICE LINE TUBING INSIDE THE RISER HAD MELTED AND RELEASED NATURAL GAS. THE SERVICE LINE WAS DUG UP AND PINCHED OFF TO STOP THE FLOW OF NATURAL GAS. THE STRUCTURE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE GAS REGULATOR AND METER WERE SEVERELY BURNED AND UNRECOVERABLE. A JOINT INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED BY THE LOCAL FIRE INVESTIGATOR, AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE COMPANY AND A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR HIRED BY ENSTAR. WHILE THE FIRE STARTED NEAR THE GAS METER, IT'S ORIGIN APPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. A NON GFCI ELECTRICAL OUTLET WAS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE STRUCTURE, NEAR THE GAS METER. PLUGGED INTO THE OUTLET WAS AN UNUSED EXTENSION CORD. ALSO PLUGGED INTO THE OUTLET WAS A PHOTO VOLTAIC TIMER, A 6 RECEPTACLE POWER STRIP, A SMALL EXTENSION CORD, A STRING OF DECORATIVE PATIO LIGHTS AND A DECORATIVE WATER FOUNTAIN. IT APPEARS ONE OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED AND STARTED BURNING PLASTIC AND SILK DECORATIVE FLOWERS THAT HAD BEEN PLACED AROUND THE GAS METER. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FIRE FIRST INCIDENT.