NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS CO

gas_distribution Incident — OTTAWA, IL

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorNORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS CO
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityOTTAWA
StateIL
CountyLASALLE
Coordinates41.39615, -88.94421

Cause

CauseNATURAL FORCE DAMAGE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage
Lost Commodity
Public/Private Damage
Emergency Response
Environmental Remediation
Other Costs

Location Map

Incident Narrative

ON THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, THERE WERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HIGH WINDS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT A LIGHTNING STRIKE DAMAGED A NEARBY POWER LINE. THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL INVESTIGATED THIS FIRE. THEIR INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT CORNBELT ELECTRIC WAS AT THIS PROPERTY ABOUT ONE HOUR BEFORE THE FIRE WORKING ON A DROPPED NEUTRAL LINE. CORNBELT MADE THE REPAIRS AND MOVED ON. THE ELECTRIC AND GAS ENTER THE BUILDING IN THE SAME AREA. FIRE MARSHAL STATED THERE WERE TWO THEORIES. 1. THE DAMAGED POWER LINE MAY HAVE STARTED THE FIRE AND DROPDOWN MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE METER SET AND CAUSED THE GAS RELEASE. 2. LIGHTNING MAY HAVE STRUCK THE METER SET AND BEGAN THE FIRE. A SUB SURFACE LEAKAGE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED OVER THE MAIN AND SERVICE LINE AND NO LEAKS WERE FOUND BELOW GRADE. THIS SERVICE LINE HAS A PROPERTY LINE REGULATOR. A GRADE 3 LEAK WAS FOUND ON THE ABOVEGROUND PROPERTY LINE REGULATOR PIPING. THIS MINOR LEAK DID NOT CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE FIRE. NOTE: RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE SERVICE LINE WAS INSTALLED IN 1969, BUT THE METER SET WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED ON 10-16-20. SUPPLEMENTAL/FINAL REPORT SUBMITTED PER PHMSA AID REQUEST TO UPDATE THE INFORMATION IN A-4.

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.

Back to All Incidents More Incidents in IL