NORTHERN STATES POWER CO OF WISCONSIN

gas_distribution Incident — ASHLAND, WI

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorNORTHERN STATES POWER CO OF WISCONSIN
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityASHLAND
StateWI
CountyASHLAND
Coordinates46.56921, -90.91780

Cause

CauseNATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

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

Location Map

Incident Narrative

DURING A SERVER THUNDERSTORM, LIGHTNING HIT THE RESIDENTIAL GAS METER AT 3311 CITY HEIGHTS RD IN ASHLAND WI. THE GAS METER WAS BLOWN OFF THE METER SET PIPING AND IGNITED THE BLOWING GAS. AS A RESULT OF THE BURNING GAS THE HOME SUSTAINED DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF $50,000. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UPON ARRIVAL EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND BENT OVER THE RISER PIPING TO ELIMINATE THE BLOWING GAS. ONCE THE NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY ON CALL EMERGENCY RESPONDER ARRIVED THE SERVICE WAS DUG AT THE BASE OF THE RISER AND CUT AND CAPPED. A NEW SERVICE AND METER SET WILL BE INSTALLED ONCE THE HOME IS REPAIRED. IT WAS NOT CLEAR UNTIL 8:00 AM THE NEXT MORNING THAT LIGHTNING HIT THE METER SET DIRECTLY CAUSING THE SUBSEQUENT FIRE AND DAMAGE.

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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