MICHIGAN CONSOLIDATED GAS CO (MICHCON)

Incident Narrative

ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2011 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:40 PM A VEHICLE BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY RAN OFF THE PAVEMENT AND STRUCK THE OUTSIDE METER ASEMBLY AT 1467 TERRACE STREET. AT 11:50 PM MICHCON RECEIVED A REPORT OF A STRUCTURE FIRE AT 1457 TERRACE; THE CORRECT ADDRESS WAS DETERMINED TO BE 1467 TERRACE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUESTED THE GAS TO BE SHUT OFF TO ENABLE FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS. GAS SERVICE WAS TERMINATED AT APPROXIMATELY 1:54 AM ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 BY A MICHCON CREW EXCAVATING THE 5/8-INCH OD HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC SERVICE LINE NEAR THE MAIN TAP, PINCHING THE PLASTIC TUBING, AND CUTTING AND CAPPING THE SERVICE LINE. THE METER ASSEMBLY WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE AND WAS NOT RECOVERED. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE STRUCTURE FIRE WAS LIKELY THE IMPACT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE OUTSIDE METER ASSEMBLY, APPARENTLY BREAKING THE METER AND OTHER COMPONENTS, AND CAUSING A GAS LEAK. NATURAL GAS LEAKING FROM THE METER ASSEMBLY WAS IGNITED BY AN UNKNOWN SOURCE AND WAS FOUND BURNING AT THE SOUTH WALL OF THE HOUSE. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSE ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY. THE TWO-STORY HOME AT 1467 TERRACE STREET SUSTAINED MAJOR FIRE DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS.