Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2012-06-12 — CA
Operator
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
1 injury
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2012-06-12 15:51
Report number
Location
CA, SAN FRANCISCO
Narrative
At approximately 1551 hours, the san francisco fire department notified pg&e of a gas release due to an explosion and fire at 2811 san bruno ave in san francisco. The property is an unoccupied building undergoing construction and appears to be a multi-family residential structure. A third party contractor dug a bell hole close to the face of the incident building to expose the water and gas lines. The contractor was sweating a copper water service line without shielding pg&e's 1-inch plastic gas service line when an explosion occurred. It appears that the sweating torch melted the gas line, releasing gas which resulted in the explosion and fire. The contractor did not hold a valid USA ticket. Traffic was rerouted and the area was blocked off. Approximately 20 people in the neighboring dental office were evacuated. Pg&e gsr was onsite at 1615 hours and field crews stopped the flow of gas to the incident building at 1750 hours by digging and squeezing the service line at the distribution main. No fatalities; five total customers were out of service; one of the three contractors present was injured and taken to the hospital and damages are estimated above $50,000 deeming this incident reportable to DOT & cpuc. Major tv media channels 2, 4, 5 & 7 were present. A leak survey of services on both sides of the 2800 block of san bruno ave was performed the same night as the incident and no leaks were detected. One customer was relit by 2100 hours on 6/12/12 and the other four services will be relit once the appropriate repairs are complete and after the customers request new service.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2012-06-12 15:51:00
Year
2012
Report Received Date
2012-07-12 00:00:00
Iyear
2012.0
Report Number
20120053.0
Supplemental Number
15497.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
15007
Name
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Operator Street Address
6121 Bollinger Canyon Rd.
Operator City Name
San Ramon
Operator State Abbreviation
CA
Operator Postal Code
94583
Local Datetime
2012-06-12 15:51:00
Location Street Address
2811 San Bruno Avenue
Location City Name
San Francisco
Location County Name
San Francisco
Location State Abbreviation
CA
Location Postal Code
94134
Location Latitude
37.72621
Location Longitude
-122.40301
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2012-06-12 18:30:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1014387
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
1
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
1
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
20.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2012-06-12 15:51:00
On Site Datetime
2012-06-12 16:15:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Service
Installation Year
2012.0
Pipe Diameter
1.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Performance
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Plastic Sdr
11.5
Material Pe Pipe Code
2406
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
A 3rd Party Contractor Was Not Protecting The Plastic Gas Line When Sweating A Copper Water Line And Melted The Plastic Pipe Causing A Release Of Gas And Explosion.
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
1000000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
0.0
Est Cost Emergency
0.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
0.0
Prpty
1000000.0
Commercial Affected
5.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
0.0
Accident Psig
50.0
Normal Psig
50.0
Mop Psig
60.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Notification From Emergency Responder
Investigation Status
No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate)
Investigation Status Details
No scada on this part of the system
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Cause Details
Other Outside Force Damage
Outside Force Type
Other Outside Force Damage
Osf Other Details
A Third Party Contractor Was Sweating A Copper Water Service Line Without Shielding Pg&e's 1-Inch Plastic Gas Service Line When An Explosion Occured. It Appears That The Sweating Torch Melted The Gas Line, Releasing Gas Which Resulted In An Explosion And Fire.
Preparer Name
C***** D****
Preparer Title
Gas Compliance Engineer
Preparer Email
C***@p**.com
Preparer Telephone
925-974-4378
Preparer Fax
925-974-4232
Authorizer Name
B*** G*****
Authorizer Title
Director Regulatory Compliance And Support
Authorizer Telephone
925-974-4210
Authorizer Email
W***@p**.com
Narrative
At approximately 1551 hours, the san francisco fire department notified pg&e of a gas release due to an explosion and fire at 2811 san bruno ave in san francisco. The property is an unoccupied building undergoing construction and appears to be a multi-family residential structure. A third party contractor dug a bell hole close to the face of the incident building to expose the water and gas lines. The contractor was sweating a copper water service line without shielding pg&e's 1-inch plastic gas service line when an explosion occurred. It appears that the sweating torch melted the gas line, releasing gas which resulted in the explosion and fire. The contractor did not hold a valid USA ticket. Traffic was rerouted and the area was blocked off. Approximately 20 people in the neighboring dental office were evacuated. Pg&e gsr was onsite at 1615 hours and field crews stopped the flow of gas to the incident building at 1750 hours by digging and squeezing the service line at the distribution main. No fatalities; five total customers were out of service; one of the three contractors present was injured and taken to the hospital and damages are estimated above $50,000 deeming this incident reportable to DOT & cpuc. Major tv media channels 2, 4, 5 & 7 were present. A leak survey of services on both sides of the 2800 block of san bruno ave was performed the same night as the incident and no leaks were detected. One customer was relit by 2100 hours on 6/12/12 and the other four services will be relit once the appropriate repairs are complete and after the customers request new service.
| Occurred At | 2012-06-12 15:51:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2012 |
| Report Received Date | 2012-07-12 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2012.0 |
| Report Number | 20120053.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 15497.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 15007 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Pacific Gas & Electric Co |
| Operator Street Address | 6121 Bollinger Canyon Rd. |
| Operator City Name | San Ramon |
| Operator State Abbreviation | CA |
| Operator Postal Code | 94583 |
| Local Datetime | 2012-06-12 15:51:00 |
| Location Street Address | 2811 San Bruno Avenue |
| Location City Name | San Francisco |
| Location County Name | San Francisco |
| Location State Abbreviation | CA |
| Location Postal Code | 94134 |
| Location Latitude | 37.72621 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -122.40301 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2012-06-12 18:30:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1014387 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 0 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 1 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 0 |
| Injure | 1 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 20.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2012-06-12 15:51:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2012-06-12 16:15:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Service |
| Installation Year | 2012.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 1.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Performance |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Plastic Sdr | 11.5 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 2406 |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | A 3rd Party Contractor Was Not Protecting The Plastic Gas Line When Sweating A Copper Water Line And Melted The Plastic Pipe Causing A Release Of Gas And Explosion. |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 1000000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 1000000.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 5.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 50.0 |
| Normal Psig | 50.0 |
| Mop Psig | 60.0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Emergency Responder |
| Investigation Status | No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate) |
| Investigation Status Details | No scada on this part of the system |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Other Outside Force Damage |
| Cause Details | Other Outside Force Damage |
| Outside Force Type | Other Outside Force Damage |
| Osf Other Details | A Third Party Contractor Was Sweating A Copper Water Service Line Without Shielding Pg&e's 1-Inch Plastic Gas Service Line When An Explosion Occured. It Appears That The Sweating Torch Melted The Gas Line, Releasing Gas Which Resulted In An Explosion And Fire. |
| Preparer Name | C***** D**** |
| Preparer Title | Gas Compliance Engineer |
| Preparer Email | C***@p**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 925-974-4378 |
| Preparer Fax | 925-974-4232 |
| Authorizer Name | B*** G***** |
| Authorizer Title | Director Regulatory Compliance And Support |
| Authorizer Telephone | 925-974-4210 |
| Authorizer Email | W***@p**.com |
| Narrative | At approximately 1551 hours, the san francisco fire department notified pg&e of a gas release due to an explosion and fire at 2811 san bruno ave in san francisco. The property is an unoccupied building undergoing construction and appears to be a multi-family residential structure. A third party contractor dug a bell hole close to the face of the incident building to expose the water and gas lines. The contractor was sweating a copper water service line without shielding pg&e's 1-inch plastic gas service line when an explosion occurred. It appears that the sweating torch melted the gas line, releasing gas which resulted in the explosion and fire. The contractor did not hold a valid USA ticket. Traffic was rerouted and the area was blocked off. Approximately 20 people in the neighboring dental office were evacuated. Pg&e gsr was onsite at 1615 hours and field crews stopped the flow of gas to the incident building at 1750 hours by digging and squeezing the service line at the distribution main. No fatalities; five total customers were out of service; one of the three contractors present was injured and taken to the hospital and damages are estimated above $50,000 deeming this incident reportable to DOT & cpuc. Major tv media channels 2, 4, 5 & 7 were present. A leak survey of services on both sides of the 2800 block of san bruno ave was performed the same night as the incident and no leaks were detected. One customer was relit by 2100 hours on 6/12/12 and the other four services will be relit once the appropriate repairs are complete and after the customers request new service. |
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