Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2010-09-26 — IA
Operator
Alliant Energy - Interstate Power And Light Company
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
3 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$1,000
Incident datetime
2010-09-26 08:48
Report number
Location
IA, APPANOOSE
Narrative
The fire occurred on sunday, september 26, 2010 at 1202 drake avenue in centerville, ia. Centerville is located in appanoose county. Conditions that morning were clear and sunny with temperatures around 65 degrees fahrenheit. At approximately 8:48 am cst, interstate power & light's (ipl) distribution dispatch center in cedar rapids, ia received a call from employees in ipl's centerville call center with a report of an electrical outage and a house fire across the street from the call center building. An electric lineman was dispatched to investigate. At approximately 9:05 am, a call also came in from the centerville police/fire dispatcher reporting a house fire. When the ipl lineman arrived onsite at 9:20 am, the valve at the gas meter set had been shut off by fire department personnel. At this point, the situation appeared to be a house fire caused by a squirrel making contact with an energized switch on a pole at the rear of 1202 drake avenue, which resulted in a fault and breaker operations that introduced high voltage electricity into the home's electrical wiring system. At approximately 9:25 am, during firefighting activities, a "whoosh" or "flash" occurred, indicating an ignition of gas. At this point, flames also appeared along the ground near the house. Gas employees arrived on site at 9:32 am. At approximately 10:25 am, gas to the residence was shut off by excavating over the service tap and operating the existing service tee. Six firefighters sought medical treatment due to the gas ignition. Three of them were admitted to the hospital for overnight observation and released the next day. An iowa utilities board investigator, along with a state fire investigator, visited the site on the afternoon of monday, september 27, 2010 and witnessed the excavation and removal of a segment of the service line. Initial indications are that an electrical arc between the electrical service line conduit and the steel gas service burned a hole in both, allowing gas to migrate into the already burning structure via the conduit and into the electric service panel. The source of ignition would appear to be the existing fire in the structure. The incident was reported telephonically to kevin williams of the national response center at approximately 10:01 cst on monday, september 27, 2010 by jim house, manager gas distribution and metering. (case #955252) the incident was not reported on sunday, september 26, 2010, because it was reported to mr. House as a house fire that was later fed by natural gas. There were no indications of an explosive or violent gas ignition. After reading the news accounts on monday morning, september 27, 2010 describing it as a gas explosion, mr. House immediately made the telephonic notification to the national response center. In mr. House's follow-up discussions with mr. Lopez from the PHMSA office in houston, mr. Lopez agreed that it appeared to be a "fire first, gas second" scenario. Supplemental report (02/03/2011): no changes to information previously provided. Status of report is changed to "final".
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2010-09-26 08:48:00
Year
2010
Report Received Date
2010-10-26 00:00:00
Iyear
2010.0
Report Number
20100091.0
Supplemental Number
15181.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
8170
Name
Alliant Energy - Interstate Power And Light Company
Operator Street Address
200 First Street Se
Operator City Name
Cedar Rapids
Operator State Abbreviation
IA
Operator Postal Code
52401-1409
Local Datetime
2010-09-26 08:48:00
Location Street Address
1202 Drake Avenue
Location City Name
Centerville
Location County Name
Appanoose
Location State Abbreviation
IA
Location Postal Code
52544-2920
Location Latitude
40.723422
Location Longitude
-92.872749
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2010-09-27 10:01:00
Nrc Rpt Num
955252
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
50.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
3
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
3
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2010-09-26 08:48:00
On Site Datetime
2010-09-26 09:20:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Private Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
18.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Service
Pipe Diameter
1.25
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
It Appears A Squirrel Made Contact With A Gang Operated Switch On A Pole At The Rear Of 1202 Drake Avenue, Which Resulted In A Fault And Breaker Operations That Introduced High Voltage Electricity On The Electric Service, Causing A High Voltage Electrical Arc Between The Underground Electric Service And The Steel Gas Service. Holes Were Subsequently Burned In Both The Steel Gas Service And The Conduit For The Electric Service.
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
80000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
1000.0
Est Cost Emergency
5000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
175.0
Prpty
86175.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
1.0
Accident Psig
52.0
Normal Psig
52.0
Mop Psig
60.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Cause Details
Electrical Arcing From Other Equipment Or Facility
Outside Force Type
Electrical Arcing From Other Equipment Or Facility
Preparer Name
R****** A* S******
Preparer Title
Sr. Mgr. Compliance And Operational Performance
Preparer Email
R*************@a************.com
Preparer Telephone
319-786-4008
Preparer Fax
319-786-4638
Authorizer Name
R****** A* S******
Authorizer Title
Sr. Mgr. Compliance And Operational Performance
Authorizer Telephone
319-786-4008
Authorizer Email
R*************@a************.com
Narrative
The fire occurred on sunday, september 26, 2010 at 1202 drake avenue in centerville, ia. Centerville is located in appanoose county. Conditions that morning were clear and sunny with temperatures around 65 degrees fahrenheit. At approximately 8:48 am cst, interstate power & light's (ipl) distribution dispatch center in cedar rapids, ia received a call from employees in ipl's centerville call center with a report of an electrical outage and a house fire across the street from the call center building. An electric lineman was dispatched to investigate. At approximately 9:05 am, a call also came in from the centerville police/fire dispatcher reporting a house fire. When the ipl lineman arrived onsite at 9:20 am, the valve at the gas meter set had been shut off by fire department personnel. At this point, the situation appeared to be a house fire caused by a squirrel making contact with an energized switch on a pole at the rear of 1202 drake avenue, which resulted in a fault and breaker operations that introduced high voltage electricity into the home's electrical wiring system. At approximately 9:25 am, during firefighting activities, a "whoosh" or "flash" occurred, indicating an ignition of gas. At this point, flames also appeared along the ground near the house. Gas employees arrived on site at 9:32 am. At approximately 10:25 am, gas to the residence was shut off by excavating over the service tap and operating the existing service tee. Six firefighters sought medical treatment due to the gas ignition. Three of them were admitted to the hospital for overnight observation and released the next day. An iowa utilities board investigator, along with a state fire investigator, visited the site on the afternoon of monday, september 27, 2010 and witnessed the excavation and removal of a segment of the service line. Initial indications are that an electrical arc between the electrical service line conduit and the steel gas service burned a hole in both, allowing gas to migrate into the already burning structure via the conduit and into the electric service panel. The source of ignition would appear to be the existing fire in the structure. The incident was reported telephonically to kevin williams of the national response center at approximately 10:01 cst on monday, september 27, 2010 by jim house, manager gas distribution and metering. (case #955252) the incident was not reported on sunday, september 26, 2010, because it was reported to mr. House as a house fire that was later fed by natural gas. There were no indications of an explosive or violent gas ignition. After reading the news accounts on monday morning, september 27, 2010 describing it as a gas explosion, mr. House immediately made the telephonic notification to the national response center. In mr. House's follow-up discussions with mr. Lopez from the PHMSA office in houston, mr. Lopez agreed that it appeared to be a "fire first, gas second" scenario. Supplemental report (02/03/2011): no changes to information previously provided. Status of report is changed to "final".
| Occurred At | 2010-09-26 08:48:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2010 |
| Report Received Date | 2010-10-26 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2010.0 |
| Report Number | 20100091.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 15181.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 8170 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Alliant Energy - Interstate Power And Light Company |
| Operator Street Address | 200 First Street Se |
| Operator City Name | Cedar Rapids |
| Operator State Abbreviation | IA |
| Operator Postal Code | 52401-1409 |
| Local Datetime | 2010-09-26 08:48:00 |
| Location Street Address | 1202 Drake Avenue |
| Location City Name | Centerville |
| Location County Name | Appanoose |
| Location State Abbreviation | IA |
| Location Postal Code | 52544-2920 |
| Location Latitude | 40.723422 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -92.872749 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2010-09-27 10:01:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 955252 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 50.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 0 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 3 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 0 |
| Injure | 3 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2010-09-26 08:48:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2010-09-26 09:20:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Private Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 18.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Service |
| Pipe Diameter | 1.25 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Other |
| Steel Seam Type Details | Unknown |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | It Appears A Squirrel Made Contact With A Gang Operated Switch On A Pole At The Rear Of 1202 Drake Avenue, Which Resulted In A Fault And Breaker Operations That Introduced High Voltage Electricity On The Electric Service, Causing A High Voltage Electrical Arc Between The Underground Electric Service And The Steel Gas Service. Holes Were Subsequently Burned In Both The Steel Gas Service And The Conduit For The Electric Service. |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 80000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 1000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 5000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 175.0 |
| Prpty | 86175.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 1.0 |
| Accident Psig | 52.0 |
| Normal Psig | 52.0 |
| Mop Psig | 60.0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Investigation Status | No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Other Outside Force Damage |
| Cause Details | Electrical Arcing From Other Equipment Or Facility |
| Outside Force Type | Electrical Arcing From Other Equipment Or Facility |
| Preparer Name | R****** A* S****** |
| Preparer Title | Sr. Mgr. Compliance And Operational Performance |
| Preparer Email | R*************@a************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 319-786-4008 |
| Preparer Fax | 319-786-4638 |
| Authorizer Name | R****** A* S****** |
| Authorizer Title | Sr. Mgr. Compliance And Operational Performance |
| Authorizer Telephone | 319-786-4008 |
| Authorizer Email | R*************@a************.com |
| Narrative | The fire occurred on sunday, september 26, 2010 at 1202 drake avenue in centerville, ia. Centerville is located in appanoose county. Conditions that morning were clear and sunny with temperatures around 65 degrees fahrenheit. At approximately 8:48 am cst, interstate power & light's (ipl) distribution dispatch center in cedar rapids, ia received a call from employees in ipl's centerville call center with a report of an electrical outage and a house fire across the street from the call center building. An electric lineman was dispatched to investigate. At approximately 9:05 am, a call also came in from the centerville police/fire dispatcher reporting a house fire. When the ipl lineman arrived onsite at 9:20 am, the valve at the gas meter set had been shut off by fire department personnel. At this point, the situation appeared to be a house fire caused by a squirrel making contact with an energized switch on a pole at the rear of 1202 drake avenue, which resulted in a fault and breaker operations that introduced high voltage electricity into the home's electrical wiring system. At approximately 9:25 am, during firefighting activities, a "whoosh" or "flash" occurred, indicating an ignition of gas. At this point, flames also appeared along the ground near the house. Gas employees arrived on site at 9:32 am. At approximately 10:25 am, gas to the residence was shut off by excavating over the service tap and operating the existing service tee. Six firefighters sought medical treatment due to the gas ignition. Three of them were admitted to the hospital for overnight observation and released the next day. An iowa utilities board investigator, along with a state fire investigator, visited the site on the afternoon of monday, september 27, 2010 and witnessed the excavation and removal of a segment of the service line. Initial indications are that an electrical arc between the electrical service line conduit and the steel gas service burned a hole in both, allowing gas to migrate into the already burning structure via the conduit and into the electric service panel. The source of ignition would appear to be the existing fire in the structure. The incident was reported telephonically to kevin williams of the national response center at approximately 10:01 cst on monday, september 27, 2010 by jim house, manager gas distribution and metering. (case #955252) the incident was not reported on sunday, september 26, 2010, because it was reported to mr. House as a house fire that was later fed by natural gas. There were no indications of an explosive or violent gas ignition. After reading the news accounts on monday morning, september 27, 2010 describing it as a gas explosion, mr. House immediately made the telephonic notification to the national response center. In mr. House's follow-up discussions with mr. Lopez from the PHMSA office in houston, mr. Lopez agreed that it appeared to be a "fire first, gas second" scenario. Supplemental report (02/03/2011): no changes to information previously provided. Status of report is changed to "final". |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA