SPIRE ALABAMA INC.
gas_distribution Incident — CORDOVA, AL
Incident Information
| Report Date | — |
| Operator | SPIRE ALABAMA INC. |
| Commodity | — |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | CORDOVA |
| State | AL |
| County | WALKER |
| Coordinates | 33.75781, -87.21242 |
Cause
| Cause | EXCAVATION 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 4"" HIGH PRESSURE STEEL MAIN WAS DAMAGED BY A FRONT END LOADER AND THE RELEASED GAS IGNITED. THE FIRE TOTALLY DESTROYED THE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND SURROUNDING BRUSH. THE FRONT END LOADER OPERATOR WAS SEVERELY BURNED IN THE INCIDENT AND WAS HOSPITALIZED. THE EXCAVATOR DID NOT MAKE ANY NOTIFICATION TO THE ONE CALL CENTER FOR LINE LOCATES. HOWEVER, PIPELINE MARKER SIGNS WERE NEAR THE LOCATION THAT WAS DAMAGED. THE PIPELINE WAS SHUT DOWN TO STOP THE FIRE AND ALLOW FOR REPAIRS. 467 CUSTOMERS WERE WITHOUT SERVICE UNTIL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. CONFIRMATION OF THE INCIDENT CONDITION BEING MET OF INJURY LIKELY REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION WAS DETERMINED AT 12:48 PM. THIS WAS WHEN THE OPERATOR OF THE FRONT-END LOADER WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES EXPECTED TO REQUIRE ADMITTANCE. THE NRC NOTIFICATION WAS THEN MADE SHORTLY THEREAFTER AT 1:24 PM.
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.