PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO

gas_distribution Incident — SANTA CLARA, CA — August 26, 2015

Incident Information

Incident DateAugust 26, 2015
OperatorPACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO
CommodityNATURAL GAS
Pipeline Typegas_distribution

Location

CitySANTA CLARA
StateCA
CountySANTA CLARA COUNTY
Coordinates37.36021, -121.99636

Cause

CauseOTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE
Subcause"DAMAGE BY CAR, TRUCK, OR OTHER MOTORIZED VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION"

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries2

Costs

Property Damage$8,000
Emergency Response$0
Other Costs$0

Location Map

Incident Narrative

"AT 1610 HOURS ON AUGUST 26, 2015, PG&E WAS NOTIFIED OF A VEHICLE IMPACT INCIDENT AT 2055 WHITE OAK LANE IN SANTA CLARA. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A 3-METER MANIFOLD OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING RESULTING IN AN UNINTENTIONAL RELEASE OF GAS THAT SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITED. THE BUILDING THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE IS A SMALL STRIP MALL CONSISTING OF FOUR BUSINESSES AT 2035, 2041, 2045, AND 2055 WHITE OAK LANE IN SANTA CLARA. THE FACILITY IMPACTED BY THE INCIDENT WAS LOCATED BEHIND A CHAIN-LINK FENCE MORE THAN FIVE FEET FROM THE ROADWAY, ON THE SIDE OF 2055 WHITE OAK LANE, ADJACENT TO THE PARKING LOT OF 2065 WHITE OAK LANE. UPON ARRIVAL, THE FIRE OFFICIALS EVACUATED THE BUILDING. A PG&E GAS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ARRIVED ON SITE A 1626 HOURS AND CREWS ARRIVED ONSITE AT 1712 HOURS. GAS WAS SHUT IN AT 2041 HOURS BY EXCAVATING AND SQUEEZING THE 1-INCH PLASTIC SERVICE. BAY AREA MAJOR MEDIA WERE OBSERVED ON SITE AT APPROXIMATELY 1711 HOURS. DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE FIRE ARE ESTIMATED TO EXCEED $50,000, MAKING THE INCIDENT REPORTABLE TO BOTH THE DOT AND CPUC. POLICE NOTED THAT THIS WAS A HIT-AND-RUN COLLISION AND NOTED THERE ARE NO FATALITIES. TWO INDIVIDUALS (INCLUDING ONE FIREFIGHTER) WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL."

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.

Back to All Incidents More Incidents in CA