WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO

gas_distribution Incident — LAUREL, MD — April 29, 2010

Incident Information

Incident DateApril 29, 2010
OperatorWASHINGTON GAS LIGHT CO
CommodityNATURAL GAS
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityLAUREL
StateMD
CountyPRINCE GEORGE'S
Coordinates39.06433, -76.85888

Cause

CauseOTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
Subcause"NEARBY INDUSTRIAL, MAN-MADE, OR OTHER FIRE/EXPLOSION AS PRIMARY CAUSE OF INCIDENT"

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage
Emergency Response$8,200
Other Costs$400,000

Location Map

Incident Narrative

"WASHINGTON GAS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE OF A HOUSE FIRE AT 8738 OXWELL LANE IN LAUREL, MD ON 4/29/10 AT THE REQUEST OF THE PRINCE GEORGE'S FIRE BOARD. UPON ARRIVAL, THE METER VALVE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE METER BUILD-UP WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. THE RISER WAS CAPPED OFF. A GAS MIGRATION SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE HOUSE AND OVER THE SERVICE LINE TO THE MAIN. NO INDICATIONS WERE FOUND. ON 4/30/10, WASHINGTON GAS RETURNED TO THE SITE TO EXCAVATE THE SERVICE LINE IN THE YARD, CAP IT OFF, AND PERFORM A PRESSURE TEST ON IT. APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET OF SERVICE LINE WAS TESTED WITH NO LEAKS FOUND. THIS PORTION OF THE SERVICE LINE WAS ABANDONED IN PLACE AFTER THE PRESSURE TEST. WASHINGTON GAS BELIEVES THE FIRE STARTED ELSEWHERE IN THE HOUSE AND CONSEQUENTLY CONSUMED ITS FACILITIES."

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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