NORTHERN UTILITIES, INC. (NH)

Incident Narrative

HOME OWNER HAD HIS ROOF SHOVELED TO REMOVE SNOW, HOUSE IS A RANCH STYLE L SHAPED, ADDRESS, 68 LOCKE ROAD HAMPTON NH, THIS HOUSE SITS ON A CORNER LOT, LOCKE ROAD & EDGEWOOD ROAD, AND GAS SERVICE COMES OFF EDGEWOOD ROAD. ALL OF THE SNOW REMOVED FROM THE ROOF WAS PILED ON TOP OF THE RESIDENTIAL 250 INTERMEDIATE PRESSURE METER FIT, THE METER FIT WAS CONNECTED TO A 3/4 INCH ANODLESS RISER, SERVICE LINE WAS A 1/2 INCH HIGH DENSITY PL, 3408. METER FIT SUPPORTED BY A DRIVEN BRACKET CONNECTED TO THE INLET OF THE METER BAR. WHEN OUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN ARRIVED ON SITE THE HOME OWNER EXPLAINED THEY HAD A FIRE, OUR TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE METER FIT, BUT HE KNEW THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THEY DIG OUT THE BACK DOOR AND METER FIT SO OUR TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE RISER VALVE, THIS SERVICE HAD A FLOW LIMITER (550 CFH). THE WEIGHT OF THE SNOW, APPROXIMATELY SEVEN (7) FEET HIGH PUSHED THE FIT ASSEMBLY DOWN CAUSING THE THREAD TO FAIL ON THE OUT LET OF THE RISER VALVE. THE HOME OWNER'S KITCHEN WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL FROM THE METER FIT, HOME OWNER TURNED ON HIS GARBAGE DISPOSAL IGNITING THE NATURAL GAS AS A FLASH, THE HOME OWNER HAD MINOR BURNS ON HIS ARMS AND FACE, FIRE DEPARTMENT TREATED HIM ON SITE, THIS CAUSED EXTENSIVE FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE TO THE RESIDENCE MAKING THE RESIDENCE INHABITABLE, THE SERVICE WAS ABANDONED AT THE MAIN ON EDGEWOOD ROAD.