Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2014-02-28 — MI
Operator
Consumers Energy Co
Cause
Miscellaneous Root Causes
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$2,188
Incident datetime
2014-02-28 22:02
Report number
Location
MI, OAKLAND
Narrative
Consumers energy's first responder arrived on site at 2754 wilder lane in waterford, mi at 10:49 pm, february 28, 2014, to respond to a housefire incident. Pin bar testing was performed at the north side of the house near the meter, where 15% gas reads were found. Additional bar testing revealed sustained 95% gas reads at the southwest corner of the house and 100% gas reads approximately 45 feet west of the house near the road. A strong gas odor was evident in this location. First responders then took gas readings inside the basement after being escorted in by the fire marshall. Bar testing at adjacent houses (south and west of 2754 wilder) produced no gas reads. At 1:42 am on march 1, a gas distribution crew arrived and exposed the 2 inch steel main in front of (west of) 2754 wilder. The main was bent, cracked and leaking. The crew opened up the hole to vent the blowing gas. A frost ball on the leak was knocked off at 5:45 am, at which point the gas began blowing. At 9:20 am, a 2" plidco repair sleeve, which stopped the leak and repaired the main. Investigation concluded the apparent cause of the main leak was damage during installation of a water main; the exact time period of the water main installation is unknown. This conclusion is based on the observed damage and proximity of the water main. The location of the main leak was approximately 45 feet from the southwest corner of the house. A search of miss dig staking requests for this location did not yield any recent staking tickets within the last 15 months. The origin of the housefire was apparently the basement of the home. Although an on-scene investigator representing the homeowner's insurance company (state farm) indicated that the gas leak may have caused the fire, follow-up investigation by consumers energy indicates that this scenario is unlikely. There was no evidence of an explosion or indeed ignition of gas in the home, and while there were extremely low levels of gas detected in the basement by first responders (0.16% gas reads, or 4% lel), this seems to have occurred as a result of all doors and windows (including those in the basement) being opened by the fire department, allowing gas to enter the home from outside. There were no apparent cracks or holes in the basement wall which would otherwise provide a path of migration into the home, and no leaks were found on the meter or the steel gas service to the home. Furthermore, the majority of fire damage was some distance from the northwest side of the basement (the side closest to the gas facilities) the fire department chief on site was ultimately unable to come to a determination on the cause of the housefire. Due to the lack of certainty about the source of fire, as well as property damage within the home (damages to appliances and smoke damage) likely exceeding $50,000, this incident was reported to the national response center. Damage estimates from the fire obtained from various investigators range from approximately $50,000 to $110,000; insurance company representatives stated that the home was insured to a value of $160,000. Investigation into the cause of the fire were inconclusive and reported as such on the 30-day PHMSA report originally submitted on march 27, 2014. Subsequent speculation by an insurance company investigator (without performing any investigation) was that the cause of the fire was natural gas migration from an external natural gas leak (caused by the installation of a water main). The speculation of the insurance company investigator was incorporated into the waterford regional fire department's report. Due to the complete destruction of the scene by the fire department, no actual investigation was possible and no legitimate conclusions can be reached.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2014-02-28 22:02:00
Year
2014
Report Received Date
2014-03-27 00:00:00
Iyear
2014.0
Report Number
20140027.0
Supplemental Number
16208.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
2748
Name
Consumers Energy Co
Operator Street Address
One Energy Plaza
Operator City Name
Jackson
Operator State Abbreviation
MI
Operator Postal Code
49201
Local Datetime
2014-02-28 22:00:00
Location Street Address
2754 Wilder Lane
Location City Name
Waterford
Location County Name
Oakland
Location State Abbreviation
MI
Location Postal Code
48329-9998
Location Latitude
42.678464
Location Longitude
-83.389884
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2014-03-07 15:18:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1076019
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
83.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2014-02-28 22:02:00
On Site Datetime
2014-02-28 22:49:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
53.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1955.0
Pipe Diameter
2.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
110000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
2188.0
Est Cost Emergency
392.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
395.0
Prpty
112975.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
1.0
Accident Psig
58.0
Normal Psig
58.0
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 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
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Previous Damage Due To Excavation Activity
Ex Party Type
Previous Damage Due To Excavation Activity
Ex Hydrotest Leak Survey Date
2013-11-18 00:00:00
Ex Hydrotest Conducted Ind
No
Notify Cga Dirt
Yes
Public Row Ind
Yes
Public Subtype
City Street
Excavator Type
Utility
Excavator Equipment
Unknown/other
Work Performed
Water
One Call Notified Ind
No
Locator Type
Unknown/other
Visible Marks
Unknown/other
Root Cause Category
Miscellaneous Root Causes
Root Cause Type
Previous Damage
Preparer Name
C******* K***
Preparer Title
Senior Engineering Technical Analyst I
Preparer Email
C************@c********.com
Preparer Telephone
571-788-0509
Authorizer Name
A***** L* W***
Authorizer Title
Gas Regulatory Services Lead
Authorizer Telephone
517-545-8746
Authorizer Email
A**********@c********
Narrative
Consumers energy's first responder arrived on site at 2754 wilder lane in waterford, mi at 10:49 pm, february 28, 2014, to respond to a housefire incident. Pin bar testing was performed at the north side of the house near the meter, where 15% gas reads were found. Additional bar testing revealed sustained 95% gas reads at the southwest corner of the house and 100% gas reads approximately 45 feet west of the house near the road. A strong gas odor was evident in this location. First responders then took gas readings inside the basement after being escorted in by the fire marshall. Bar testing at adjacent houses (south and west of 2754 wilder) produced no gas reads. At 1:42 am on march 1, a gas distribution crew arrived and exposed the 2 inch steel main in front of (west of) 2754 wilder. The main was bent, cracked and leaking. The crew opened up the hole to vent the blowing gas. A frost ball on the leak was knocked off at 5:45 am, at which point the gas began blowing. At 9:20 am, a 2" plidco repair sleeve, which stopped the leak and repaired the main. Investigation concluded the apparent cause of the main leak was damage during installation of a water main; the exact time period of the water main installation is unknown. This conclusion is based on the observed damage and proximity of the water main. The location of the main leak was approximately 45 feet from the southwest corner of the house. A search of miss dig staking requests for this location did not yield any recent staking tickets within the last 15 months. The origin of the housefire was apparently the basement of the home. Although an on-scene investigator representing the homeowner's insurance company (state farm) indicated that the gas leak may have caused the fire, follow-up investigation by consumers energy indicates that this scenario is unlikely. There was no evidence of an explosion or indeed ignition of gas in the home, and while there were extremely low levels of gas detected in the basement by first responders (0.16% gas reads, or 4% lel), this seems to have occurred as a result of all doors and windows (including those in the basement) being opened by the fire department, allowing gas to enter the home from outside. There were no apparent cracks or holes in the basement wall which would otherwise provide a path of migration into the home, and no leaks were found on the meter or the steel gas service to the home. Furthermore, the majority of fire damage was some distance from the northwest side of the basement (the side closest to the gas facilities) the fire department chief on site was ultimately unable to come to a determination on the cause of the housefire. Due to the lack of certainty about the source of fire, as well as property damage within the home (damages to appliances and smoke damage) likely exceeding $50,000, this incident was reported to the national response center. Damage estimates from the fire obtained from various investigators range from approximately $50,000 to $110,000; insurance company representatives stated that the home was insured to a value of $160,000. Investigation into the cause of the fire were inconclusive and reported as such on the 30-day PHMSA report originally submitted on march 27, 2014. Subsequent speculation by an insurance company investigator (without performing any investigation) was that the cause of the fire was natural gas migration from an external natural gas leak (caused by the installation of a water main). The speculation of the insurance company investigator was incorporated into the waterford regional fire department's report. Due to the complete destruction of the scene by the fire department, no actual investigation was possible and no legitimate conclusions can be reached.
| Occurred At | 2014-02-28 22:02:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
| Report Received Date | 2014-03-27 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2014.0 |
| Report Number | 20140027.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 16208.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 2748 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Consumers Energy Co |
| Operator Street Address | One Energy Plaza |
| Operator City Name | Jackson |
| Operator State Abbreviation | MI |
| Operator Postal Code | 49201 |
| Local Datetime | 2014-02-28 22:00:00 |
| Location Street Address | 2754 Wilder Lane |
| Location City Name | Waterford |
| Location County Name | Oakland |
| Location State Abbreviation | MI |
| Location Postal Code | 48329-9998 |
| Location Latitude | 42.678464 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -83.389884 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2014-03-07 15:18:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1076019 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 83.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2014-02-28 22:02:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2014-02-28 22:49:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 53.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1955.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 2.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Other |
| Steel Seam Type Details | Unknown |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 110000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 2188.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 392.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 395.0 |
| Prpty | 112975.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 1.0 |
| Accident Psig | 58.0 |
| Normal Psig | 58.0 |
| 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 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 | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Previous Damage Due To Excavation Activity |
| Ex Party Type | Previous Damage Due To Excavation Activity |
| Ex Hydrotest Leak Survey Date | 2013-11-18 00:00:00 |
| Ex Hydrotest Conducted Ind | No |
| Notify Cga Dirt | Yes |
| Public Row Ind | Yes |
| Public Subtype | City Street |
| Excavator Type | Utility |
| Excavator Equipment | Unknown/other |
| Work Performed | Water |
| One Call Notified Ind | No |
| Locator Type | Unknown/other |
| Visible Marks | Unknown/other |
| Root Cause Category | Miscellaneous Root Causes |
| Root Cause Type | Previous Damage |
| Preparer Name | C******* K*** |
| Preparer Title | Senior Engineering Technical Analyst I |
| Preparer Email | C************@c********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 571-788-0509 |
| Authorizer Name | A***** L* W*** |
| Authorizer Title | Gas Regulatory Services Lead |
| Authorizer Telephone | 517-545-8746 |
| Authorizer Email | A**********@c******** |
| Narrative | Consumers energy's first responder arrived on site at 2754 wilder lane in waterford, mi at 10:49 pm, february 28, 2014, to respond to a housefire incident. Pin bar testing was performed at the north side of the house near the meter, where 15% gas reads were found. Additional bar testing revealed sustained 95% gas reads at the southwest corner of the house and 100% gas reads approximately 45 feet west of the house near the road. A strong gas odor was evident in this location. First responders then took gas readings inside the basement after being escorted in by the fire marshall. Bar testing at adjacent houses (south and west of 2754 wilder) produced no gas reads. At 1:42 am on march 1, a gas distribution crew arrived and exposed the 2 inch steel main in front of (west of) 2754 wilder. The main was bent, cracked and leaking. The crew opened up the hole to vent the blowing gas. A frost ball on the leak was knocked off at 5:45 am, at which point the gas began blowing. At 9:20 am, a 2" plidco repair sleeve, which stopped the leak and repaired the main. Investigation concluded the apparent cause of the main leak was damage during installation of a water main; the exact time period of the water main installation is unknown. This conclusion is based on the observed damage and proximity of the water main. The location of the main leak was approximately 45 feet from the southwest corner of the house. A search of miss dig staking requests for this location did not yield any recent staking tickets within the last 15 months. The origin of the housefire was apparently the basement of the home. Although an on-scene investigator representing the homeowner's insurance company (state farm) indicated that the gas leak may have caused the fire, follow-up investigation by consumers energy indicates that this scenario is unlikely. There was no evidence of an explosion or indeed ignition of gas in the home, and while there were extremely low levels of gas detected in the basement by first responders (0.16% gas reads, or 4% lel), this seems to have occurred as a result of all doors and windows (including those in the basement) being opened by the fire department, allowing gas to enter the home from outside. There were no apparent cracks or holes in the basement wall which would otherwise provide a path of migration into the home, and no leaks were found on the meter or the steel gas service to the home. Furthermore, the majority of fire damage was some distance from the northwest side of the basement (the side closest to the gas facilities) the fire department chief on site was ultimately unable to come to a determination on the cause of the housefire. Due to the lack of certainty about the source of fire, as well as property damage within the home (damages to appliances and smoke damage) likely exceeding $50,000, this incident was reported to the national response center. Damage estimates from the fire obtained from various investigators range from approximately $50,000 to $110,000; insurance company representatives stated that the home was insured to a value of $160,000. Investigation into the cause of the fire were inconclusive and reported as such on the 30-day PHMSA report originally submitted on march 27, 2014. Subsequent speculation by an insurance company investigator (without performing any investigation) was that the cause of the fire was natural gas migration from an external natural gas leak (caused by the installation of a water main). The speculation of the insurance company investigator was incorporated into the waterford regional fire department's report. Due to the complete destruction of the scene by the fire department, no actual investigation was possible and no legitimate conclusions can be reached. |
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