COLUMBIA GAS OF PENNSYLVANIA

Incident Narrative

ON MARCH 4, 2016 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:03 AM, A BYSTANDER CALLED IN AN ODOR OF GAS IN THE AIR IN THE VICINITY OF 244 SOUTH COLUMBUS AVE, LITTLESTOWN, PA. COLUMBIA'S EMPLOYEE ARRIVED ONSITE AT 9:49 AM. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF LEAKAGE AT THAT ADDRESS AND THE EMPLOYEE STARTED TO ASSESS AND ESTABLISH THE PERIMETER. THE EMPLOYEE CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE THE ENTIRE BLOCK AND DISCOVERED 30 % LEL READINGS IN THE VICINITY OF THE SERVICE RISER AT 372 LEXINGTON WAY, LITTLESTOWN, PA AT APPROXIMATELY 10:26 AM. HE THEN WENT TO THE FRONT DOOR TO EVACUATE THE PREMISE, KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, AND NO ONE ANSWERED. AT 10:30 AM HE SHUT OFF GAS TO THE METER VALVE. AT 10:31 AM HE CALLED INTEGRATION CENTER TO HAVE GAS COMPANY CREWS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES RESPOND TO THE SCENE. HE ALSO REQUESTED THE INTEGRATION CENTER TO CONTACT ELECTRIC COMPANY TO SHUT OFF THE ELECTRICITY TO THE HOME. AT 10:35 AM HE TERMINATED SERVICE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE BY ENGAGING THE EXCESS FLOW VALVE. AT 10:35 AM THE LITTLESTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE FIRE FIGHTERS DISCOVERED A CAR IN THE GARAGE THROUGH A WINDOW THEY WERE ABLE TO OPEN AND WERE CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE WAS HOME. THE EMPLOYEE AND FIRE FIGHTERS GOT 20% LEL READINGS INSIDE THE GARAGE AND THE FIREFIGHTERS DECIDED TO ENTER THE HOME TO LOOK FOR ANYONE INSIDE. AT APPROXIMATELY 10:55 AM THE RESIDENCE AT 372 LEXINGTON WAY EXPLODED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE HOME. TWO FIRE FIGHTERS FROM THE LITTLESTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE BASEMENT OF THE HOME AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT SUFFERED THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO THEIR HANDS AND WERE ADMITTED TO THE BAYVIEW BURN CENTER IN BALTIMORE, MD. BOTH FIREFIGHTERS WERE RELEASED ON MARCH 8, 2016.