COLUMBIA GAS OF PENNSYLVANIA
gas_distribution Incident — RIMERSBURG, PA — October 29, 2020
Incident Information
| Incident Date | October 29, 2020 |
| Operator | COLUMBIA GAS OF PENNSYLVANIA |
| Commodity | NATURAL GAS |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | RIMERSBURG |
| State | PA |
| County | CLARION |
| Coordinates | 41.04099, -79.50848 |
Cause
| Cause | "PIPE, WELD, OR JOINT FAILURE" |
| Subcause | FUSION JOINT |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $4,000 |
| Emergency Response | $60,000 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
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.