ATHENS GAS DEPARTMENT

gas_distribution Incident — HARVEST, AL

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorATHENS GAS DEPARTMENT
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityHARVEST
StateAL
CountyLIMESTONE
Coordinates34.77062, -86.82958

Cause

CauseEXCAVATION DAMAGE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries1

Costs

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

Location Map

Incident Narrative

CONTRACTOR DID NOT REQUEST LOCATE HOMEOWNER DID FOR LANDSCAPING AND REQUEST FOR ENTIRE AREA LOCATOR INDETIFIED AND LOCATED SERVICE TO HOUSE BUT FAILED TO LOCATE MAIN IN EASEMENT. DRAINAGE WORK WAS BEING PERFORMED BY WALK BEHIND TRENCHER ON THE RIGHT-AWAY OR UTILITY EASEMENT. CONTRACTOR HIT 2 INCH PE GAS LINE AND IT IGNITED. CONTRACTOR WAS BURNED AND SENT TO HOSPITAL. GAS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES ARRIVED AND AFTER ACCESSING THE SITUATION ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY PLAN AND INFORMED SUPERVISOR WHOM IN RETURN CALLED OTHER CREWS IN TO HELP AND GAS DEPARTMENT MANAGER . THE SUPERVISOR AND MANAGER DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO LET THE GAS STAY BURNING AS NO MORE DAMAGE WAS OCCURRING AND WE KNEW THE GAS WAS BEING CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL WE TURNED VALVE OFF TO ONE FEED AND THEN SQUEEZED OFF THE OTHER. THE EAST LIMESTONE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT STYED UNTIL THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

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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