PUGET SOUND ENERGY
gas_distribution Incident — BELLEVUE, WA
Incident Information
| Report Date | — |
| Operator | PUGET SOUND ENERGY |
| Commodity | — |
| Pipeline Type | gas_distribution |
Location
| City | BELLEVUE |
| State | WA |
| County | KING |
| Coordinates | 47.58053, -122.14890 |
Cause
| Cause | OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE |
| Subcause | — |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 2 |
Costs
| Property Damage | — |
| Lost Commodity | — |
| Public/Private Damage | — |
| Emergency Response | — |
| Environmental Remediation | — |
| Other Costs | — |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
TWO EMPLOYEES OF MACDONALD-MILLER CONTRACTORS (NOT AFFILIATED WITH OPERATOR) WERE SOLDERING ON A COPPER WATER PIPE IN AN OPEN EXCAVATION OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING. THE HEAT PRODUCED WHILE SOLDERING THE COPPER WATER PIPE MELTED A NEARBY 1 1/4"" PE GAS MAIN THAT RAN PERPENDICULAR TO THE WATER PIPE. GAS ESCAPED FROM THE MELTED PE PIPE AND IGNITED, AND THE WORKERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH BURNS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVACUATED APPROXIMATELY 55 PEOPLE FROM THE BUILDING. THE PE MAIN WAS SQUEEZED SHUTTING OFF THE FLOW OF GAS. A PERMANENT REPAIR OF THE PE MAIN WAS COMPLETED BY REPLACING THE SECTION THAT HAD MELTED. THE BUILDING SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE BUT COSTS TO THE BUILDING OWNER ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. NO MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING.
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.