FLORENCE GAS DEPT, CITY OF
gas_distribution Incident — FLORENCE, AL
Incident Information
| Report Date | — |
| Operator | FLORENCE GAS DEPT, CITY OF |
| Commodity | — |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | FLORENCE |
| State | AL |
| County | LAUDERDALE |
| Coordinates | 34.80663, -87.67568 |
Cause
| Cause | OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE |
| Subcause | — |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 1 |
Costs
| Property Damage | — |
| Lost Commodity | — |
| Public/Private Damage | — |
| Emergency Response | — |
| Environmental Remediation | — |
| Other Costs | — |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
A VEHICLE TRAVELING EAST ON HERMITAGE DRIVE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND HIT THE RESIDENCE AT 316 HERMITAGE DRIVE. THE TRUCK STRUCK THE HOUSE WHERE THE GAS METER WAS SET BREAKING THE METER OFF AT THE RISER. THE GAS WAS IGNITED AND THE HOUSE AND TRUCK WERE BOTH A TOTAL LOSS. THE OCCUPANTS IN THE TRUCK LEFT THE SCENE ON FOOT AND THE DRIVER WAS ARRESTED LATER THAT AFTERNOON. THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE. JAMES ROBERT WATSON, HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE SECOND FLOOR WINDOW TO ESCAPE THE FIRE. IN DOING SO, HE SLIPPED AND FELL TO THE GROUND BREAKING HIS BACK IN 3 PLACES AND ALSO BREAKING HIS PELVIS. HE WAS TAKEN TO ECM HOSPITAL IN FLORENCE AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS ADMITTED FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS. THE SERVICEMEN WHO RESPONDED SQUEEZED THE SERVICE LINE OFF TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD CONTAIN THE FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED TO A SAFE POINT; THE SERVICE LINE WAS KILLED. THE SERVICE LINE WILL NOT BE PUT BACK DUE TO THE HOUSE BEING A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE INCLUDED THE FLORENCE POLICE REPORT, THE FLORENCE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT, AND STATEMENTS OF OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL.
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.