SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS CO

gas_distribution Incident — WOODLAND HILLS, CA

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS CO
Commodity—
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CityWOODLAND HILLS
StateCA
CountyLOS ANGELES
Coordinates34.17725, -118.61455

Cause

CauseEXCAVATION DAMAGE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

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

Location Map

Incident Narrative

ON AUGUST 3RD AT 13:07, A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR WAS DIGGING WITH A BACKHOE TO INSTALL A FIRE SERVICE WHEN HE STRUCK A 4 INCH PLASTIC GAS MAIN CAUSING A RELEASE OF GAS AND IGNITION. ACTUAL INCIDENT LOCATION IS 5858 SHOUP AVE, WOODLAND HILLS. INITIAL REPORT SHOWED 5858 SHOUP AVE, LOS ANGELES. THE BACKHOE WAS EVENTUALLY ENGULFED BY THE FIRE AND SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. CREW RESPONDED AND CONTROLLED THE GAS. NO INJURIES OR OUTAGES RESULTED FROM THIS INCIDENT. ALL REPAIRS TO THE DAMAGED MAIN WERE COMPLETED. INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A VALID USA TICKET FOR THE CONTRACTOR AND THE 4 INCH GAS MAIN WAS PROPERLY MARKED. HOWEVER, THE CONTRACTOR FAILED TO USE HAND TOOLS WHERE REQUIRED. THIS INCIDENT WAS INITIALLY REPORTED TO THE CPUC WHEN SOCALGAS BECAME AWARE OF MEDIA COVERAGE. AT 15:19, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ASSOCIATED DAMAGE COULD POTENTIALLY EXCEED $50,000. THIS INCIDENT WAS THEN REPORTED TO DOT DUE TO A RELEASE OF GAS AND THE ASSOCIATED DAMAGE EXCEEDING $50,000. FOR ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, CONTACT KHOA LE AT (626) 893-4536.

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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