COLUMBIA GAS OF PENNSYLVANIA

gas_distribution Incident — RIMERSBURG, PA

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorCOLUMBIA GAS OF PENNSYLVANIA
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityRIMERSBURG
StatePA
CountyCLARION
Coordinates41.04099, -79.50848

Cause

CausePIPE, WELD, OR JOINT FAILURE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

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

Location Map

Incident Narrative

ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:22 AM WE RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM CLARION COUNTY, PA 911 REPORTING AN EXPLOSION AT 448 CHESTNUT STREET, RIMERSBURG, PA. OUR TECHNICIAN ARRIVED AT 8:41 AM AND CONFIRMED THE EXPLOSION AND REPORTED AN ODOR OF GAS IN THE FRONT YARD OF THE HOME. THE TECHNICIAN AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVACUATED THE HOMES IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. THE TECHNICIAN LOCATED THE SOURCE OF THE GAS LEAK AND EXPOSED MAINLINE. THE MAIN LINE WAS SHUT DOWN AND MADE SAFE AT 10:03 AM.. OUR CREWS MADE THE REPAIRS AND SERVICE WAS RE-ESTABLISHED TO AFFECTED AREA AT 8:50 PM ON OCTOBER 29, 2020. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES AS A RESULT OF THE EXPLOSION. THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED BUTT FUSION ON THE 2 INCH PLASTIC MAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS PREVIOUS DAMAGE FROM A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR.

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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