FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES CO

Incident Narrative

AT APPROXIMATELY 11:15 AM ON 8/28/2012, FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES WAS NOTIFIED BY WEST PALM BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT OF AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE AT 410.5 59TH ST., WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33407-2526. THIS RESIDENCE IS A GARAGE APARTMENT BEHIND 410 59TH ST., WEST PALM BEACH, FL. THE SERVICE TECH FROM FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILTIES ARRIVED AT 11:59 AM AND FOUND THE NATURAL GAS SERVICE TO 410 59TH ST. TURNED OFF AT THE METER BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS THEY WERE EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. THE TECH FOUND THE 3/4"" BARE STEEL NATURAL GAS SERVICE LEAKING UNDER A CONCRETE SLAB AT THE RESIDENCE. FLORIDA PUBLIC UTLITIES DISPATCHED A DISTRIBUTION CREW TO CUT THE SERVICE AT THE MAIN AND CAP IT AT 1:00 PM ON 8/28/12. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AS A RESULT OF TROPICAL STORM ISAAC, THERE WERE MULTIPLE LIGHTENING STRIKES IN THE AREA OF THE RESIDENCE ON FRIDAY, 8/24/12. NEWS REPORTS STATED THAT THE RESIDENT OF 410.5 59TH ST., WEST PALM BEACH STARTED SMELLING GAS AROUND THIS TIME. HE DID NOT NOTIFY FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES BUT LOOKED FOR THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR HIMSELF ON TUESDAY, 8/28/12. ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT IS A PICTURE OF A SECTION OF 3/4"" BARE STEEL SERVICE THAT WAS CUT AND CAPPED AT 410 59TH ST., WEST PALM BEACH. IT APPEARS TO HAVE A HOLE CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL ARC. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS INCIDENT IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS DETERMINIED THAT THE 3/4"" BS GAS SERVICE WAS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A CAST IRON SEWER LINE AND A GALVANIZED ELECTRICAL CONDUIT. THE ELECTRICAL CONDUIT WAS INSTALLED AT SOME POINT AFTER THE GAS SERVICE WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE GARAGE WAS CONVERTED INTO AN APARTMENT AND A CONCRETE SLAB WAS POURED OVER THEM ON THE GROUND. STRAY CURRENT EITHER FROM AN ELECTIC POWER POLE OR INDUCED UPON THE CONDUIT AND PIPING CAUSED AN ARC BETWEEN THE CONDUIT AND PIPES RESULTING IN A SMALL HOLE IN THE GAS PIPING. GAS LEAKED UNDER THE SLAB AS A RESULT OF THE ARC HOLE BEGINNING ON 8/24/12 AND VENTED INTO THE GARAGE APARTMENT. WHEN THE RESIDENT OF 410 59TH ST. BEGAN TO LOOK FOR THE SOURCE OF THE ODOR ON 8/28/12, HE LIT A CIGARETTE, IGNITING THE GAS IN THE APARTMENT. 5/28/2015 - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL AND FINAL REPORT FILED ON 4/28/2014. 1. THE LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE COORDINATES WERE CORRECTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COORDINATES THAT WERE OBTAINED FROM GOOGLE MAPS AND WERE SLIGHTLY INACCURATE. 2. THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS CHANGED FROM G2 - NATURAL FORCE DAMAGE (LIGHTNING) TO G4 - OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE (ELECTRICAL ARCING). ALTHOUGH THERE WAS LIGHTNING IN THE AREA DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE EXACT SOURCE OF THE CURRENT THAT ARCED A HOLE IN THE GAS SERVICE COULD NOT BE DEFINITIVELY DETERMINED AFTER AN INVESTIGATION. 3. TOTAL ESTIMATED PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS REVIEWED AND LEFT AS STATED. THE DAMAGE AND REMOVAL OF DEBRIS WERE CONFINED TO AN UNPERMITTED AND UNINHABITED DETACHED GARAGE THAT HAD BEEN CONVERTED INTO AN APARTMENT. THE REPAIR OF THE GAS MAIN CONSISTED OF INSTALLING A STOP FITTING AND INSERTING APPROX. 100' OF STEEL MAIN WITH PE PIPE AND RUNNING APPROX. 33' OF PE SERVICE. THE ASSESSED VALUE FOR THE ENTIRE PROPERTY AT 410 59TH ST, WEST PALM BEACH WAS $75,210 WITH A MARKET VALUE OF $92,639 IN 2012. THE MEDICAL COSTS FOR THE INJURED PARTY WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROPERTY DAMAGE AMOUNT. 4. REFERENCE TO ""ACTIVE LITIGATION"" WAS REMOVED FROM LAST NARRATIVE. 5. CONTACT TITLE, PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS HAVE BEEN UPDATED FOR THE SUBMITTER.