PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC & GAS CO

Incident Narrative

ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2018, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM BURLINGTON DISPATCH RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE LAWRENCE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO REPORT A HOUSE EXPLOSION AT 749 TRUMBULL AVENUE IN LAWRENCE. PSE&G PERSONNEL WERE PROMPTLY DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE. UPON ARRIVAL THE ACTUAL LOCATION WAS VERIFIED AS 743 TRUMBULL AVENUE. GAS WAS SHUT OFF AT CURB VALVE FOR 743 TRUMBULL AVENUE AND THE ADJACENT HOMES, 741 AND 745. AFTER THE EXPLOSION THE HOUSE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE. THE TWO ADJACENT HOUSES SUSTAINED MINOR FIRE DAMAGE. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES, ONE REQUIRING INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION. INITIAL REPORTS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE HOMEOWNER MAY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE HEATING SYSTEM AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. SUBSEQUENT ONSITE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT A PLUG ON THE SERVICE TEE INSIDE THE BASEMENT HAD BEEN MECHANICALLY REMOVED AND THE OPEN SERVICE TEE WAS THE SOURCE OF THE GAS LEAK. THE SERVICE WAS PRESSURE TESTED ON 11/25/18 AT 10PSI FOR 5 MINUTES AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. THE SERVICE WAS PRESSURE TESTED AGAIN ON 12/3/18 AT 55 PSI FOR 5 MINUTES AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING WITH NO UPDATES AT THIS TIME.