Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2014-11-03 — FL
Operator
Florida Public Utilities Co
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$20,000
Incident datetime
2014-11-03 20:34
Report number
Location
FL, PALM BEACH
Narrative
At approximately 20:34 on 11/3/14, florida public utilities (fpu) received a call from palm beach county fire rescue that an explosion and fire had occurred at 417 primavera av in palm beach. Fpu technicians arrived at 20:57 and discovered the residence at the address engulfed in flames. The fire department had shut off the natural gas service meter to the residence but natural gas was still feeding the flames. Crews from fpu stopped the flow of gas in the 3" main on the street at the intersection of primavera av and cocoanut row. This stopped the flow of gas to the house at 417 primavera ave. Approximatley 25 additional residences were affected by the flow of gas being stopped. The gas main is a 3" bare steel main operated at 20 psig. The service to 417 primavera is a 3/4" pe service operated at 20 psig. There are conflicting preliminary reports of injuries from this residnece. The incident commander from town of palm beach fire rescue stated one person, a possible property caretaker, and one palm beach county fireman were treated for minor injuries and released at good samaritan hospital in west palm beach. Initial news reports stated that the 82 year old homeowner and his wife were treated and released from good samaritan hospital in west palm beach. Neither of these reports can be confirmed at this time (09:19 on 11/4/14). Supplemental narrative update 11/18/14: the homeowner detected leaking natural gas in the garage and exited the garage to the outside when the gas ignited from unkown sources. It has been determined that the gas escaped the main under the paving in the street where it was in contact with a steel conduit for an at&t phone calbe and a steel conduit for the electric service to the house. The escaping gas traveled through holes in the gas main and the phone conduit created by electrical arc burns. The gas entered 417 primavera via the phone conduit into the garage. Three persons were transported to a local hospital and all were examined and released. The 82 year old homeowner was treated for minor injuries and released. His wife was also checked out and released. One firefighter was treated for a knee injury sustained when she tripped over hose line and released. Upon a pressure test of the main and services on the street, additional arc burns were detected in a 3/4" pe serivce in the street near the conduits. The 3" bs gas main was inserted with 2" pe and the services were repaired and all the affected facilities were pressure tested again and service was restored to the remaining houses on the street on 11/6/2014. At&t has also replaced the phone cable in the street and abandoned the steel conduit by 11/17/2014. Final - updated narrative 2/25/15 a jopint inspection of the property was conducted on 12/4/2014 by investigators for the insurance companies, florida power and light and florida public utilities. It was determined that natural gas entered the garage via a phone conduit. The gas ignited in the garage and fueled the fire. It was not determined how the gas entered the phone conduit. A metalurgical inspection of the steel phone conduit and gas pipe that was removed from the street in front of the house will be conducted at the facilities of sea limited, inc. In jacksonville on 3/17/2015. The state fire marshal's report, #14-3028 dated 1/12/2015 lists the cause as undetermined but documents fp&l employees visit to the home in the days prior to the incident and observed charring/scorch marks on the conduit leading to the smart meter on the electric service and the need to contact an electrician to investigate.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2014-11-03 20:34:00
Year
2014
Report Received Date
2014-11-04 00:00:00
Iyear
2014.0
Report Number
20140097.0
Supplemental Number
16025.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
5330
Name
Florida Public Utilities Co
Operator Street Address
208 Wildlight Ave
Operator City Name
Yulee
Operator State Abbreviation
FL
Operator Postal Code
32097
Local Datetime
2014-11-03 20:15:00
Location Street Address
417 Primavera Ave.
Location City Name
Palm Beach
Location County Name
Palm Beach
Location State Abbreviation
FL
Location Postal Code
33480
Location Latitude
26.710577
Location Longitude
-80.042052
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2014-11-04 07:35:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1100120
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
1.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
2.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2014-11-03 20:34:00
On Site Datetime
2014-11-03 20:57:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Private Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
20.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1963.0
Pipe Diameter
3.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Current Arced Hole In Gas Main
Class Location Type
Class 2 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
3000000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
20000.0
Est Cost Emergency
1000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
50.0
Prpty
3021050.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
25.0
Accident Psig
20.0
Normal Psig
20.0
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
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
M****** M******
Preparer Title
Operations Compliance Manager
Preparer Email
M*******@f***.com
Preparer Telephone
(863) 224-0417
Preparer Fax
(863) 299-2554
Authorizer Name
M****** M******
Authorizer Title
Operations Compliance Manager
Authorizer Telephone
(863) 224-0417
Authorizer Email
M*******@f***.com
Narrative
At approximately 20:34 on 11/3/14, florida public utilities (fpu) received a call from palm beach county fire rescue that an explosion and fire had occurred at 417 primavera av in palm beach. Fpu technicians arrived at 20:57 and discovered the residence at the address engulfed in flames. The fire department had shut off the natural gas service meter to the residence but natural gas was still feeding the flames. Crews from fpu stopped the flow of gas in the 3" main on the street at the intersection of primavera av and cocoanut row. This stopped the flow of gas to the house at 417 primavera ave. Approximatley 25 additional residences were affected by the flow of gas being stopped. The gas main is a 3" bare steel main operated at 20 psig. The service to 417 primavera is a 3/4" pe service operated at 20 psig. There are conflicting preliminary reports of injuries from this residnece. The incident commander from town of palm beach fire rescue stated one person, a possible property caretaker, and one palm beach county fireman were treated for minor injuries and released at good samaritan hospital in west palm beach. Initial news reports stated that the 82 year old homeowner and his wife were treated and released from good samaritan hospital in west palm beach. Neither of these reports can be confirmed at this time (09:19 on 11/4/14). Supplemental narrative update 11/18/14: the homeowner detected leaking natural gas in the garage and exited the garage to the outside when the gas ignited from unkown sources. It has been determined that the gas escaped the main under the paving in the street where it was in contact with a steel conduit for an at&t phone calbe and a steel conduit for the electric service to the house. The escaping gas traveled through holes in the gas main and the phone conduit created by electrical arc burns. The gas entered 417 primavera via the phone conduit into the garage. Three persons were transported to a local hospital and all were examined and released. The 82 year old homeowner was treated for minor injuries and released. His wife was also checked out and released. One firefighter was treated for a knee injury sustained when she tripped over hose line and released. Upon a pressure test of the main and services on the street, additional arc burns were detected in a 3/4" pe serivce in the street near the conduits. The 3" bs gas main was inserted with 2" pe and the services were repaired and all the affected facilities were pressure tested again and service was restored to the remaining houses on the street on 11/6/2014. At&t has also replaced the phone cable in the street and abandoned the steel conduit by 11/17/2014. Final - updated narrative 2/25/15 a jopint inspection of the property was conducted on 12/4/2014 by investigators for the insurance companies, florida power and light and florida public utilities. It was determined that natural gas entered the garage via a phone conduit. The gas ignited in the garage and fueled the fire. It was not determined how the gas entered the phone conduit. A metalurgical inspection of the steel phone conduit and gas pipe that was removed from the street in front of the house will be conducted at the facilities of sea limited, inc. In jacksonville on 3/17/2015. The state fire marshal's report, #14-3028 dated 1/12/2015 lists the cause as undetermined but documents fp&l employees visit to the home in the days prior to the incident and observed charring/scorch marks on the conduit leading to the smart meter on the electric service and the need to contact an electrician to investigate.
| Occurred At | 2014-11-03 20:34:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
| Report Received Date | 2014-11-04 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2014.0 |
| Report Number | 20140097.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 16025.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 5330 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Florida Public Utilities Co |
| Operator Street Address | 208 Wildlight Ave |
| Operator City Name | Yulee |
| Operator State Abbreviation | FL |
| Operator Postal Code | 32097 |
| Local Datetime | 2014-11-03 20:15:00 |
| Location Street Address | 417 Primavera Ave. |
| Location City Name | Palm Beach |
| Location County Name | Palm Beach |
| Location State Abbreviation | FL |
| Location Postal Code | 33480 |
| Location Latitude | 26.710577 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -80.042052 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2014-11-04 07:35:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1100120 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 1.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 2.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2014-11-03 20:34:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2014-11-03 20:57:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Private Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 20.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1963.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 3.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Other |
| Steel Seam Type Details | Unknown |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Current Arced Hole In Gas Main |
| Class Location Type | Class 2 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 3000000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 20000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 1000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 50.0 |
| Prpty | 3021050.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 25.0 |
| Accident Psig | 20.0 |
| Normal Psig | 20.0 |
| 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 | 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 | M****** M****** |
| Preparer Title | Operations Compliance Manager |
| Preparer Email | M*******@f***.com |
| Preparer Telephone | (863) 224-0417 |
| Preparer Fax | (863) 299-2554 |
| Authorizer Name | M****** M****** |
| Authorizer Title | Operations Compliance Manager |
| Authorizer Telephone | (863) 224-0417 |
| Authorizer Email | M*******@f***.com |
| Narrative | At approximately 20:34 on 11/3/14, florida public utilities (fpu) received a call from palm beach county fire rescue that an explosion and fire had occurred at 417 primavera av in palm beach. Fpu technicians arrived at 20:57 and discovered the residence at the address engulfed in flames. The fire department had shut off the natural gas service meter to the residence but natural gas was still feeding the flames. Crews from fpu stopped the flow of gas in the 3" main on the street at the intersection of primavera av and cocoanut row. This stopped the flow of gas to the house at 417 primavera ave. Approximatley 25 additional residences were affected by the flow of gas being stopped. The gas main is a 3" bare steel main operated at 20 psig. The service to 417 primavera is a 3/4" pe service operated at 20 psig. There are conflicting preliminary reports of injuries from this residnece. The incident commander from town of palm beach fire rescue stated one person, a possible property caretaker, and one palm beach county fireman were treated for minor injuries and released at good samaritan hospital in west palm beach. Initial news reports stated that the 82 year old homeowner and his wife were treated and released from good samaritan hospital in west palm beach. Neither of these reports can be confirmed at this time (09:19 on 11/4/14). Supplemental narrative update 11/18/14: the homeowner detected leaking natural gas in the garage and exited the garage to the outside when the gas ignited from unkown sources. It has been determined that the gas escaped the main under the paving in the street where it was in contact with a steel conduit for an at&t phone calbe and a steel conduit for the electric service to the house. The escaping gas traveled through holes in the gas main and the phone conduit created by electrical arc burns. The gas entered 417 primavera via the phone conduit into the garage. Three persons were transported to a local hospital and all were examined and released. The 82 year old homeowner was treated for minor injuries and released. His wife was also checked out and released. One firefighter was treated for a knee injury sustained when she tripped over hose line and released. Upon a pressure test of the main and services on the street, additional arc burns were detected in a 3/4" pe serivce in the street near the conduits. The 3" bs gas main was inserted with 2" pe and the services were repaired and all the affected facilities were pressure tested again and service was restored to the remaining houses on the street on 11/6/2014. At&t has also replaced the phone cable in the street and abandoned the steel conduit by 11/17/2014. Final - updated narrative 2/25/15 a jopint inspection of the property was conducted on 12/4/2014 by investigators for the insurance companies, florida power and light and florida public utilities. It was determined that natural gas entered the garage via a phone conduit. The gas ignited in the garage and fueled the fire. It was not determined how the gas entered the phone conduit. A metalurgical inspection of the steel phone conduit and gas pipe that was removed from the street in front of the house will be conducted at the facilities of sea limited, inc. In jacksonville on 3/17/2015. The state fire marshal's report, #14-3028 dated 1/12/2015 lists the cause as undetermined but documents fp&l employees visit to the home in the days prior to the incident and observed charring/scorch marks on the conduit leading to the smart meter on the electric service and the need to contact an electrician to investigate. |
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