SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS CO

gas_distribution Incident — HEMET, CA

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS CO
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityHEMET
StateCA
CountyRIVERSIDE
Coordinates33.72657, -116.94300

Cause

CauseOTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

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

Location Map

Incident Narrative

ON DECEMBER 28TH, SOCALGAS RESPONDED TO A STRUCTURE FIRE AT A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME LOCATED AT 41140 NONA COURT IN THE CITY OF HEMET. UPON ARRIVAL CREWS FOUND THE IGNITED GAS BLOWING FROM THE RISER AND THE HOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE GAS RELEASE WAS CONTROLLED BY PINCHING 2' PLASTIC MAIN. NO INJURIES OR FURTHER DAMAGE RESULTED FROM THIS INCIDENT. REPAIRS TO THE DAMAGED RISER WERE COMPLETED AND IT WAS LEFT CLAMPED AND PLUGGED AT THE SERVICE VALVE. INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT SHOWED THAT THE METER FOR THIS CUSTOMER HAD BEEN REMOVED ON APRIL 15, 2014 DUE TO NON-PAYMENT. THE SERVICE VALVE WAS LEFT IN A LOCKED CLOSED POSITION. AT SOME POINT AFTER THE METER WAS REMOVED THE CUSTOMER TAMPERED WITH THE SERVICE VALVE AND INSTALLED A BYPASS AND REGULATOR TO SUPPLY GAS TO THE HOUSELINE. THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED DUE TO MEDIA COVERAGE DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF $50,000. THIS INCIDENT WAS ALSO REPORTED TO THE CPUC.

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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