COLUMBIA GAS OF OHIO INC

Incident Narrative

ON 11-16-10 A FIRE WAS REPORTED TO COLUMBIA GAS OF OHIO (COLUMBIA) BY THE TOLEDO FIRE DEPARTMENT. COLUMBIA PERSONNEL ARRIVED AND FOUND COLUMBIA'S DISTRICT REGULATOR STATION, R-316, MANHATTAN BLVD & SUDER AV., ON FIRE. COLUMBIA CREWS OPERATED VALVES TO SHUT IN THE STATION FOR SAFETY. DISTRICT STATION, R-316, CONTINUES TO BE OUT OF COMMISSION. A TEMPORARY REGULATOR STATION HAS BEEN INSTALLED TO ENSURE SAFE, RELIABLE SERVICE TO CUSTOMERS DURING WINTER OPERATIONS. CURRENTLY SERVICE HAS BEEN RESTORED TO ALL CUSTOMERS. COLUMBIA'S CAUSE AND ORIGIN INVESTIGATORS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF A CROSS ARM FAILURE FROM OUR ELECTRICAL PROVIDER'S NEARBY POWER POLE. THE HIGH VOLTAGE PRIMARY CONDUCTORS (LINES) FELL INTO THE SECONDARY ELECTRICAL DROP SERVING COLUMBIA'S REGULATOR STATION BUILDING AND ENERGIZED THE NEUTRAL TO 7200 VOLTS. THIS RESULTED IN A FAULT CURRENT THAT TRAVELED VIA ALL AVAILABLE GROUND PATHS TO STAINLESS STEEL CONTROL LINES LOCATED INSIDE THE STATION. THE SUBSEQUENT ELECTRICAL ARCING RESULTED IN HOLES BEING BURNED IN THE STAINLESS STEEL CONTROL LINES WHICH RELEASED GAS THAT WAS IGNITED BY THE ELECTRICAL ARCING, RESULTING IN THE INITIAL PHASE OF THIS FIRE. ONCE THE GAS-FED FIRE IGNITED WITHIN THE REGULATOR STATION FROM THE ELECTRICALLY DAMAGED STAINLESS STEEL CONTROL LINES AND CONTROL BOX, THE FIRE FROM THE CONTROL LINES BURNED THE GASKETS OUT OF THE LARGE DIAMETER PIPE FLANGES AND A MUCH LARGER FIRE ENSUED FED BY THE 130 PSIG GAS. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS THAT THE FIRE THAT DAMAGED THE REGULATOR BUILDING DID NOT START UNTIL 20 TO 30 MINUTES AFTER THE POWER LINES CAME DOWN