WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO

gas_distribution Incident — FALLS CHURCH, VA

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorWASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityFALLS CHURCH
StateVA
CountyFAIRFAX
Coordinates38.84606, -77.13995

Cause

CauseOTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

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

Location Map

Incident Narrative

WASHINGTON GAS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE OF A HOUSE FIRE AT 6010 COLUMBIA PIKE IN FALLS CHURCH, VA ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2010, AT THE REQUEST OF THE FAIRFAX COUNTY FIRE BOARD. UPON ARRIVAL, WASHINGTON GAS FOUND THE GAS OFF BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THE INSIDE METER VALVE. A WASHINGTON GAS CREW ALSO TURNED THE GAS OFF AT THE CURB VALVE. A 360-DEGREE UNDERGROUND MIGRATION SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED AND NO LEAK INDICATIONS WERE FOUND. THE SERVICE WAS EXCAVATED AND CAPPED OFF AT THE CURB VALVE. A PRESSURE TEST WAS CONDUCTED ON THE SERVICE FROM THE CAPPED OFF LOCATION TO THE INSIDE METER VALVE AND NO LEAK INDICATIONS WERE FOUND. AN ODORANT SAMPLE WAS TAKEN AND THE LEVEL OF ODORANT WAS FOUND TO BE ACCEPTABLE. WASHINGTON GAS HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE FAIRFAX FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FOUND THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY A CANDLE ON A BED IN THE BASEMENT. DAMAGE TO WASHINGTON GAS FACILITIES WAS SECONDARY.

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.

Back to All Incidents More Incidents in VA