Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2023-03-27 — AL
Operator
Huntsville Gas System
Cause
Excavation Issue
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$5,000
Incident datetime
2023-03-27 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
AL, MADISON
Narrative
At approximately 1245 (12:45pm cst) on march 11, 2023, huntsville utilities (hu) dispatch center received a telephone call from a contractor notifying hu that he had cut a gas service line at 278 brevard blvd. On-call crews from hu gas department received notification at 1245 (12:45pm cst) of an outside leak due to a dig in. Hu gas department helper arrived on scene at 1258 (12:58pm cst) and noticed a strong smell of gas. The first responder knocked on the front door, but no one answered. The meter was then turned off and contact was made with one of the homeowners that arrived at the house. Due to the resident not being able to speak english, hu employee had to request help from the contractor for translation. After the contractor translated the information, the resident went inside and retrieved a resident that could speak english. The hu employee went into the house and could smell gas in the laundry room. He instructed the resident to get everyone in the house out and to not turn on any switches. The resident proceeded to turn on some light switches and the hu employee reiterated not to turn on/off anything and to get everyone out of the house. At approximately 1315 (01:15pm cst) hu leadman on-call arrived and noticed gas was blowing out of the ground near the service riser. One crew member began to attempt to test the atmosphere in the house with a gas detection unit. In his attempt to get into the house, the residence locked the door thus he had to find the resident to unlock the door. Also, hu personnel were beginning to identify the mainline valves that would isolate this section of main serving the residence. At 1333 (01:33pm cst) the supervisor on-call arrived at the scene and began access the scene. During this time other crew members began digging a hole near the area that the service line was damaged to vent the gas away from the house. Upon gaining access to the residence to test the atmosphere with the gas detection unit, the crew member in the house heard what sounded like the garage door opening and heard a loud roaring sound. As he saw the flames, he ran out the front door. The crew members digging in the yard heard what they assumed what the garage door opening immediately followed by an explosion at 1343 (01:43pm cst). Crew members re-assembled near the street, the supervisor on scene call 911 at 1343 (01:43pm cst) while the other crew members checked on the health status of all individuals at the scene. Upon finding no one was injured, the crews began to locate the nearest main line valves to begin to shut off gas to the whole area. After the supervisor ended his call with 911, he began to call additional crews to bring some equipment to dig the service up and cap it off. Additional crews arrived on scene at 14:00 (02:00 pm cst) to begin digging the service up across the street squeeze it off and cap both ends of the cut. During this time additional crew members began leak surveying the surround area and performing bar hole test around the main. Once the fire was extinguished, crews moved onto the property and continued leak survey the surrounding area and bar holing the scene. The fire marshal instructed US to remain away from the structure till their investigation was complete. An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing. Contributing factors may have been the cut gas service leaking into the house with an unknow ignition source. The local weather conditions at the time of the incident were a temperature of 60 degrees fahrenheit, the wind speed was 4 mph, no wind gust, east wind and partly cloudy. A supplemental or supplemental plus final report will be filled as soon as new, updated and/or corrected information is known. It has been determined that the root cause of the incident was locates not being performed within the allotted time frame. The contractor correctly located the service line themselves, but did not pot-hole the utilities.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-03-27 00:00:00
Iyear
2023.0
Report Number
20230016.0
Supplemental Number
38043.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
7685
Name
Huntsville Gas System
Operator Street Address
P.o. Box 2048
Operator City Name
Huntsville
Operator State Abbreviation
AL
Operator Postal Code
35804.0
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
No
Location Street Address
278 Brevard Blv
Location City Name
Huntsville
Location County Name
Madison
Location State Abbreviation
AL
Location Postal Code
35811.0
Location Latitude
34.80883
Location Longitude
-86.48319
Flow Cont Main Valve Ind
Yes
Flow Cont Meter Reg Ind
Yes
Flow Cont Squeeze Off Ind
Yes
Nrc Rpt Num
1362057.0
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1362183.0
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
64.7
Intentional Release
0.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
How Extinguished
Local/state/federal Emergency Responder
Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf
50
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
7.0
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Federal
No
Location Type
Private Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Inside A Building
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Municipally Owned
System Part Involved
Service
Installation Year
2005.0
Customer Type
Single Family Residential
Was Efv Installed Before Ind
No
Curb Valve Inst Before Inc Ind
No
Pipe Diameter
1.0
Pipe Specification
Astm D2513
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Plastic Sdr
11
Material Pe Pipe Code
2406
Release Type
Mechanical Puncture
Puncture Axial
1.0
Puncture Circum
3.0
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
390000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
5000.0
Est Cost Emergency
500.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Gas Cost In Mcf
5.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
324.0
Est Cost Intentional Release
0.0
Prpty
395824.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
1.0
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0.0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0.0
Num Resident Building Affctd
1.0
Num Business Building Affctd
0.0
Accident Psig
47.0
Normal Psig
49.0
Mop Psig
50.0
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2005-01-24 00:00:00
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Gas Odorized System Type
Injection Pump
Gas Odorized Lvl Not Msrd Ind
Yes
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Notification From Third Party That Caused The Incident
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
This incident did not indicate any pressure issues on the system.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Ex Party Type
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Prior Notification Ind
Yes
One Call System Ind
Yes
State Law Exempt Ind
No
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Private Row Ind
Yes
Private Subtype
Private Landowner
Excavator Type
Contractor
Excavator Equipment
Directional Drilling
Work Performed
Cable Tv
One Call Notified Ind
Yes
One Call Ticket Num
230581806.0
Locator Type
Contract Locator
Visible Marks
No
Service Interruption
Yes
Service Interruption Hours
24.0
Root Cause Category
Excavation Issue
Root Cause Type
Improper Excavation Practice Not Listed Above
Preparer Name
T*** G*****
Preparer Title
Gas Operations Director
Preparer Email
T**********@h******.org
Preparer Telephone
2563484852
Local Contact Name
T*** G*****
Local Contact Email
T**********@h******.org
Local Contact Telephone
2563484852
Authorizer Name
T*** G*****
Authorizer Title
Gas Operations Director
Authorizer Telephone
2563484852
Authorizer Email
T**********@h******.org
Narrative
At approximately 1245 (12:45pm cst) on march 11, 2023, huntsville utilities (hu) dispatch center received a telephone call from a contractor notifying hu that he had cut a gas service line at 278 brevard blvd. On-call crews from hu gas department received notification at 1245 (12:45pm cst) of an outside leak due to a dig in. Hu gas department helper arrived on scene at 1258 (12:58pm cst) and noticed a strong smell of gas. The first responder knocked on the front door, but no one answered. The meter was then turned off and contact was made with one of the homeowners that arrived at the house. Due to the resident not being able to speak english, hu employee had to request help from the contractor for translation. After the contractor translated the information, the resident went inside and retrieved a resident that could speak english. The hu employee went into the house and could smell gas in the laundry room. He instructed the resident to get everyone in the house out and to not turn on any switches. The resident proceeded to turn on some light switches and the hu employee reiterated not to turn on/off anything and to get everyone out of the house. At approximately 1315 (01:15pm cst) hu leadman on-call arrived and noticed gas was blowing out of the ground near the service riser. One crew member began to attempt to test the atmosphere in the house with a gas detection unit. In his attempt to get into the house, the residence locked the door thus he had to find the resident to unlock the door. Also, hu personnel were beginning to identify the mainline valves that would isolate this section of main serving the residence. At 1333 (01:33pm cst) the supervisor on-call arrived at the scene and began access the scene. During this time other crew members began digging a hole near the area that the service line was damaged to vent the gas away from the house. Upon gaining access to the residence to test the atmosphere with the gas detection unit, the crew member in the house heard what sounded like the garage door opening and heard a loud roaring sound. As he saw the flames, he ran out the front door. The crew members digging in the yard heard what they assumed what the garage door opening immediately followed by an explosion at 1343 (01:43pm cst). Crew members re-assembled near the street, the supervisor on scene call 911 at 1343 (01:43pm cst) while the other crew members checked on the health status of all individuals at the scene. Upon finding no one was injured, the crews began to locate the nearest main line valves to begin to shut off gas to the whole area. After the supervisor ended his call with 911, he began to call additional crews to bring some equipment to dig the service up and cap it off. Additional crews arrived on scene at 14:00 (02:00 pm cst) to begin digging the service up across the street squeeze it off and cap both ends of the cut. During this time additional crew members began leak surveying the surround area and performing bar hole test around the main. Once the fire was extinguished, crews moved onto the property and continued leak survey the surrounding area and bar holing the scene. The fire marshal instructed US to remain away from the structure till their investigation was complete. An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing. Contributing factors may have been the cut gas service leaking into the house with an unknow ignition source. The local weather conditions at the time of the incident were a temperature of 60 degrees fahrenheit, the wind speed was 4 mph, no wind gust, east wind and partly cloudy. A supplemental or supplemental plus final report will be filled as soon as new, updated and/or corrected information is known. It has been determined that the root cause of the incident was locates not being performed within the allotted time frame. The contractor correctly located the service line themselves, but did not pot-hole the utilities.
| Report Received Date | 2023-03-27 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023.0 |
| Report Number | 20230016.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 38043.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 7685 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Huntsville Gas System |
| Operator Street Address | P.o. Box 2048 |
| Operator City Name | Huntsville |
| Operator State Abbreviation | AL |
| Operator Postal Code | 35804.0 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | No |
| Location Street Address | 278 Brevard Blv |
| Location City Name | Huntsville |
| Location County Name | Madison |
| Location State Abbreviation | AL |
| Location Postal Code | 35811.0 |
| Location Latitude | 34.80883 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -86.48319 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Flow Cont Main Valve Ind | Yes |
| Flow Cont Meter Reg Ind | Yes |
| Flow Cont Squeeze Off Ind | Yes |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1362057.0 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1362183.0 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 64.7 |
| Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| How Extinguished | Local/state/federal Emergency Responder |
| Gas Consumed By Fire In Mcf | 50 |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 7.0 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Private Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Inside A Building |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Municipally Owned |
| System Part Involved | Service |
| Installation Year | 2005.0 |
| Customer Type | Single Family Residential |
| Was Efv Installed Before Ind | No |
| Curb Valve Inst Before Inc Ind | No |
| Pipe Diameter | 1.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Astm D2513 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Plastic Sdr | 11 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 2406 |
| Release Type | Mechanical Puncture |
| Puncture Axial | 1.0 |
| Puncture Circum | 3.0 |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 390000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 5000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 500.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 5.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 324.0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0.0 |
| Prpty | 395824.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 1.0 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0.0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0.0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 1.0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 47.0 |
| Normal Psig | 49.0 |
| Mop Psig | 50.0 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2005-01-24 00:00:00 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Gas Odorized System Type | Injection Pump |
| Gas Odorized Lvl Not Msrd Ind | Yes |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Third Party That Caused The Incident |
| 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 | This incident did not indicate any pressure issues on the system. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Ex Party Type | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Prior Notification Ind | Yes |
| One Call System Ind | Yes |
| State Law Exempt Ind | No |
| Notify Cga Dirt | No |
| Private Row Ind | Yes |
| Private Subtype | Private Landowner |
| Excavator Type | Contractor |
| Excavator Equipment | Directional Drilling |
| Work Performed | Cable Tv |
| One Call Notified Ind | Yes |
| One Call Ticket Num | 230581806.0 |
| Locator Type | Contract Locator |
| Visible Marks | No |
| Service Interruption | Yes |
| Service Interruption Hours | 24.0 |
| Root Cause Category | Excavation Issue |
| Root Cause Type | Improper Excavation Practice Not Listed Above |
| Preparer Name | T*** G***** |
| Preparer Title | Gas Operations Director |
| Preparer Email | T**********@h******.org |
| Preparer Telephone | 2563484852 |
| Local Contact Name | T*** G***** |
| Local Contact Email | T**********@h******.org |
| Local Contact Telephone | 2563484852 |
| Authorizer Name | T*** G***** |
| Authorizer Title | Gas Operations Director |
| Authorizer Telephone | 2563484852 |
| Authorizer Email | T**********@h******.org |
| Narrative | At approximately 1245 (12:45pm cst) on march 11, 2023, huntsville utilities (hu) dispatch center received a telephone call from a contractor notifying hu that he had cut a gas service line at 278 brevard blvd. On-call crews from hu gas department received notification at 1245 (12:45pm cst) of an outside leak due to a dig in. Hu gas department helper arrived on scene at 1258 (12:58pm cst) and noticed a strong smell of gas. The first responder knocked on the front door, but no one answered. The meter was then turned off and contact was made with one of the homeowners that arrived at the house. Due to the resident not being able to speak english, hu employee had to request help from the contractor for translation. After the contractor translated the information, the resident went inside and retrieved a resident that could speak english. The hu employee went into the house and could smell gas in the laundry room. He instructed the resident to get everyone in the house out and to not turn on any switches. The resident proceeded to turn on some light switches and the hu employee reiterated not to turn on/off anything and to get everyone out of the house. At approximately 1315 (01:15pm cst) hu leadman on-call arrived and noticed gas was blowing out of the ground near the service riser. One crew member began to attempt to test the atmosphere in the house with a gas detection unit. In his attempt to get into the house, the residence locked the door thus he had to find the resident to unlock the door. Also, hu personnel were beginning to identify the mainline valves that would isolate this section of main serving the residence. At 1333 (01:33pm cst) the supervisor on-call arrived at the scene and began access the scene. During this time other crew members began digging a hole near the area that the service line was damaged to vent the gas away from the house. Upon gaining access to the residence to test the atmosphere with the gas detection unit, the crew member in the house heard what sounded like the garage door opening and heard a loud roaring sound. As he saw the flames, he ran out the front door. The crew members digging in the yard heard what they assumed what the garage door opening immediately followed by an explosion at 1343 (01:43pm cst). Crew members re-assembled near the street, the supervisor on scene call 911 at 1343 (01:43pm cst) while the other crew members checked on the health status of all individuals at the scene. Upon finding no one was injured, the crews began to locate the nearest main line valves to begin to shut off gas to the whole area. After the supervisor ended his call with 911, he began to call additional crews to bring some equipment to dig the service up and cap it off. Additional crews arrived on scene at 14:00 (02:00 pm cst) to begin digging the service up across the street squeeze it off and cap both ends of the cut. During this time additional crew members began leak surveying the surround area and performing bar hole test around the main. Once the fire was extinguished, crews moved onto the property and continued leak survey the surrounding area and bar holing the scene. The fire marshal instructed US to remain away from the structure till their investigation was complete. An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing. Contributing factors may have been the cut gas service leaking into the house with an unknow ignition source. The local weather conditions at the time of the incident were a temperature of 60 degrees fahrenheit, the wind speed was 4 mph, no wind gust, east wind and partly cloudy. A supplemental or supplemental plus final report will be filled as soon as new, updated and/or corrected information is known. It has been determined that the root cause of the incident was locates not being performed within the allotted time frame. The contractor correctly located the service line themselves, but did not pot-hole the utilities. |
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