BAY STATE GAS CO
gas_distribution Incident — WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA — January 23, 2011
Incident Information
| Incident Date | January 23, 2011 |
| Operator | BAY STATE GAS CO |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | WEST SPRINGFIELD |
| State | MA |
| County | HAMPDEN |
| Coordinates | 42.60000, -72.38000 |
Cause
| Cause | OTHER INCIDENT CAUSE |
| Subcause | MISCELLANEOUS |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $1,500 |
| Emergency Response | $1,200 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"FIRE AT 92 FRONT STREET, WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA REPORTED TO COLUMBIA GAS OF MASSACHUSETTS BY WEST SPFLD FIRE DEPT. GAS SERVICE SHUTOFF TO BLDG, AND INITIAL INVESTIGATION DID NOT FIND NATURAL GAS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CAUSE OF FIRE. 2 DAYS LATER ON TUESDAY 1/25/2011, INVESTIGATORS FROM FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE SUSPECTED A POSSIBLE OVER PRESSURIZATION BASED ON SOME MARKS ON WATER HEATING EQUIPMENT, AND THE REGULATOR VENT PIPING PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED. SERVICE REGULATOR VENT PIPING WAS OBSTRUCTED DUE TO TAMPERING. THE PIPING WAS FOUND TO HAVE COMMON TRASH ITEMS INSERTED AND INSECT SCREEN REMOVED. INOPERABLE VENT CAUSED AN OVER PRESSURE TO APPLIANCES. STATE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE ACCIDENTAL IN NATURE. THERE WAS A BREAKDOWN IN THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS WHICH RESULTED IN AN NRC CALL NOT BEING MADE."
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.