NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS CO

Incident Narrative

ON MARCH 29, 2019, NJNG RESPONDED TO A HOUSE FIRE AT 44 BONAIRE DRIVE, BERKELEY TOWNSHIP CALLED INTO DISPATCH BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS EVACUATED 2 PEOPLE FROM NEARBY HOMES WITHIN THE VICINITY OF THE AFFECTED HOME. THE RESIDENCE AT 44 BONAIRE DRIVE WAS VACANT. THE FIRE CHIEF AND INVESTIGATOR PROVIDED NJNG THE FOLLOWING PRELIMINARY FINDINGS: HEAVY HYDROCARBONS OR ACCELERANT IN THE AREA. AT THE TIME THE INITIAL INCIDENT REPORT WAS PREPARED, THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE NATURAL GAS SERVICE FEEDING THIS RESIDENCE WAS A 1/2"" HDPE LINE OPERATING AT 55 PSI. THE METER LOCATION WAS OUTSIDE LEFT, APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET FROM CORNER OF HOUSE. NEITHER THE METER OR ABOVEGROUND PIPING WERE COMPROMISED; HOWEVER, A HOLE WAS NOTED AT THE 6 O'CLOCK POSITION ON THE SERVICE LINE. IN OR ABOUT JULY 2019, THE BERKELEY TOWNSHIP POLICE CHARGED THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNER WITH CRIMINAL MISCHIEF FOR RECKLESSLY OR NEGLIGENTLY DAMAGING PROPERTY WHILE EMPLOYING OR HANDLING FIRE, ""BY POURING GASOLINE INTO A GROUNDHOG HOLE AND CAUSING A STRUCTURE FIRE AT 44 BONAIRE DRIVE IN BERKELEY TOWNSHIP."" THE NEIGHBOR IS APPROXIMATELY 80 YEARS OLD. DURING OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PROSECUTOR, SHE ADVISED THAT THEIR EXPERT HAS OPINED THAT THE GAS LINE WAS ATTACKED BY FIRE, WHICH IS JUST WHAT OUR EXPERTS SAY. A REVIEW OF NJNG RECORDS REVEAL THERE IS NO HISTORY OF A GAS LEAK OR LEAKS AT THE PROPERTY OR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. BASED ON THE FOREGOING, WE CONCLUDE THAT THE GAS PIPE WAS COMPROMISED AS A RESULT OF THE NEIGHBOR POURING GASOLINE INTO THE GROUNDHOG HOLE CAUSING A FIRE.