|
Gas
Homes in the area of were evacuated after a natural gas line was punctured by Board of Public Works maintenance crews working on a section of sidewalk. Officials from Beatrice Fire and Rescue and Black Hills Energy responded to the call, which came just after 10 a.m. Approximately 10 homes along the block were checked for gas and four homes were evacuated by Black Hills Energy officials for safety precautions. The leak was “relatively safe” as far as gas leaks are concerned, a fire official said, as it happened away from a building and was venting into the atmosphere. Black Hills employees, complete with breathing apparatus, put a tapered plug into the puncture. A more permanent fix — a clamp that will be welded to the pipeline — will be installed as soon as possible.
Link: "Monroe street closed due to gas line break"
The Beatrice Daily Sun
UF Accident #6410
Beatrice, NE 06/03/2009
|
|
Gas
A gas leak in downtown Tremonton forced a number of businesses to be evacuated. A city crew was attempting to repair a water main near a bank when digging crews struck a gas main. Public safety officials responded and blocked off the area while the main was repaired.
Link: "Tremonton Gas Leak Forces Evacuations"
The Tremonton Leader
UF Accident #6412
Tremonton, UT 06/03/2009
|
|
Comm
Some 2,000 Bell customers were without service after a construction crew sliced a cable during an excavation operation. Bell had to secure the area before working on the problem. In the meantime, Montreal police patrolled the area to provide emergency phone service.
Link: "Phone service outage on West Island"
CTV Montreal
UF Accident #6413
Dorval, QC 06/03/2009
|
|
Gas
Two local families will have to rebuild after a devastating fire that began with a gas leak. More than 40 firefighters tried to save the homes after an underground CenterPoint gas line had been ruptured by a crew digging in order to repair a home's foundation. According to the contractor, a spark from the air conditioning unit ignited the fire. Before firefighters arrived, the blaze had spread to the homes on either side of the work area. They were able to save one, but the other had extensive fire damage. No one was injured in the blaze. The contractor said they took all the precautions, still something happened and the gas line was ruptured.
Link: "Gas leak destroys home in Campden Hill"
KHOU.com
UF Accident #6407
Houston, TX 06/02/2009
|
|
Gas
Two houses were evacuated for about an hour after local highway workers accidentally pulled up a natural gas line. The roadway where the accident occurred was also closed. Highway workers had been checking for utilities as they prepare for road reconstruction. Bay State Gas Co. responded and shut the gas line down.
Link: "Gas leak forces evacuation of 2 Foxboro homes"
The Sun Chronicle
UF Accident #6408
Foxboro, MA 06/01/2009
|
|
Gas
A gas leak forced dozens to evacuate from their homes. According to reports, the company that caused the leak never dialed 911. Reports indicated it is the same company that caused a gas leak and explosion in Oconomowoc last year. The leak happened after work crews severed a natural gas line at about 8:15 a.m. The gas leaked into the sewer lines in the neighborhood. Some gas even traveled up into some basements through those lines. Several homes were vented out to remove the gas. The break happened because the location of the gas line was mismarked, officials said. The leak was contained and people were allowed to return to their homes shortly after noon. The foreman at the site called Wisconsin Public Service, the gas utility in Sheboygan, to report the leak. However, the crew did not dial 911 despite a company policy to do so.
Link: "Sheboygan Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations"
TMJ4 Milwaukee
UF Accident #6409
Sheboygan, WI 06/01/2009
|
|
Gas
Residents of an Oceana County neighborhood were evacuated from their homes after a gas pipeline break. A worker using a backhoe was excavating a sewer line when he severed the 2-inch pipeline. A volunteer firefighter was operating the backhoe, recognized the gas break, shut down the equipment and called 911. Two square blocks of homes were evacuated; nine blocks were cornered off.
Link: "Gas Pipeline Break Prompts Neighborhood Evacuation in Oceana County"
9and10News.com
UF Accident #6403
Hart, MI 05/31/2009
|
|
Gas
A natural gas line ruptured causing the evacuation of blocks around the site. A man was digging a new sewer line on private when he hit the gas line.
Link: "Klotz said the man had called Miss Dig come out to mark all of the services before beginning the project, but the main 2-inch gas line near the road was apparently not marked."
Ludington Daily News
UF Accident #6411
Hart, MI 05/31/2009
|
|
Gas
A Washington County family escaped injury when a gas explosion destroyed their mobile home. A woman and her daughter were on the front porch checking plants when her home exploded. The explosion occurred after the woman’s landlord apparently hit a gas line while working with a backhoe to repair a water line. No one was seriously hurt, but several firefighters who responded to the scene suffered minor burns.
Link: "Gas blast levels mobile home"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
UF Accident #6400
Roscoe, PA 05/30/2009
|
|
Gas
City firefighters swept through a neighborhood checking on homes after a gas pipe was ruptured. Workers with Precision a contractor working for Central Hudson Electric & Gas Co. struck a 4-inch gas pipe with a backhoe. Workers quickly made temporary repairs of the pipe. Firefighters went to nearly 40 homes in the neighborhood to check for gas odors and whether stove pilot lights went out. Fire officials said 15 homes were found to be without pilot lights.
Link: "Gas pipe break prompts safety check"
Kingston Daily Freeman
UF Accident #6401
Kingston, NY 05/29/2009
|
|
Gas
Students and faculty at a high school were evacuated and the building closed following a gas leak. The gas leak happened when an excavation crew working on a project on the north side of the hit the primary gas main to the building. Students and school employees were evacuated from the building, but no one was injured. Nicor crews arrived and were able to isolate the leak and shut off the gas without shutting off service to neighboring buildings.
Link: "Batavia High School closed after gas leak"
Chicago Breaking News Center
UF Accident #6402
Batavia, IL 05/29/2009
|
|
Water
Lomita residents south of Pacific Coast Highway were advised to boil their water before drinking it as a precautionary measure. The boil order lasted for four days after a water main break. A contractor performing work in the area accidently cut the water main.
Link: "Some Lomita residents advised to boil water due to main break"
DailyBreeze.com
UF Accident #6404
Lomita, CA 05/28/2009
|
|
Comm
UPDATE Verizon West Virginia is suing the state Department of Transportation and Division of Highways, claiming workers damaged an underground cable during excavation work in Wheeling.
The telecommunications company filed a lawsuit May 8 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
According to the complaint, the state on April 9, 2007, was doing test drilling core sample work on National Road in Wheeling which required excavation.
Verizon says state law requires entities planning to dig to first call a central agency, which, in turn informs operators of underground utilities. The utilities determine if there are any underground facilities and then mark them with bright orange paint.
Verizon also says this law makes the digging entity liable for any damages after the underground facilities are marked.
The company claims that, despite the markings on National Road, state road crews dug down and damaged an underground conduit and the telecommunications cable housed inside.
Verizon seeks $18,000 for the damages and reimbursement of legal costs.
Diana Leigh Johnson is representing the plaintiffs. The case is before Kanawha Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib.
Link: "Verizon suing state over damaged underground cable"
The West Virginia Record
UF Accident #6397
Wheeling, VA 05/27/2009
|
|
Comm
UPDATE Verizon West Virginia is suing the state Department of Transportation and Division of Highways, claiming workers damaged an underground cable during excavation work in Wheeling. According to the complaint, the state on April 9, 2007, was doing test drilling core sample work on National Road in Wheeling which required excavation. Verizon said state law requires entities planning to dig to first call a central agency, which, in turn informs operators of underground utilities. The company claims that, despite the markings on National Road, state road crews dug down and damaged an underground conduit and the telecommunications cable housed inside. Verizon seeks $18,000 for the damages and reimbursement of legal costs.
Link: "Verizon suing state over damaged underground cable"
The West Virginia Record
UF Accident #6398
Wheeling, VA 05/27/2009
|
|
Gas
A broken natural gas main forced the closure of two roads. Crews digging to install new pipes apparently broke the pipe, resulting in natural gas spewing high above a dump truck parked next to the ditch and a backhoe that was digging the hole. The incident occurred shortly before 8 a.m. The gas was shut off around 8:20 a.m., allowing crews to repair the break
Link: "Gas main break shuts down traffic"
Mid-Hudson News
UF Accident #6386
Wallkill, NY 05/26/2009
|
|
Gas
A construction crew severed a gas line. As a precaution, officials evacuated about a half dozen nearby.
Link: "Gas leak evacuates 6 homes in Hyde Park "
The Boston Globe
UF Accident #6389
Hyde Park, MA 05/26/2009
|
|
Gas
Fire crews were at the scene of a gas line rupture. First units at the scene reported that a construction crew working on a water line accidentally punctured a 4-inch gas line while using a backhoe. Workers placed a hazmat condition II on the incident. Firefighters had to evacuate several businesses in the area as a precaution until the gas line was repaired. About 20 employees were affected by the evacuation. There were injuries reported.
Link: "Construction Crews Puncture 4-Inch Gas Line In East El Paso"
KFOX 14
UF Accident #6393
El Paso, TX 05/26/2009
|
|
Gas
A potentially deadly situation was averted when several emergency agencies came together to deal with a gas leak and fire. Around 3 p.m., an excavating crew was digging when it hit a 50-pound gas line, causing a leak. A Warsaw police officer on patrol saw the leak and alerted the Warsaw Fire Department, which sent crews to the scene as a preventative measure. Since there was no way to isolate the gas line to turn it off at a valve, a worker was sent down the hole to weld and repair the pipe. he welder was nearly finished with the repair around 6:38 p.m. when a spark ignited the gas, causing a fire. Because of the size of the gas line, firefighters stood ready with hoses in case they were needed. Workers were able to get out of the hole without incident. Residents of eight homes in the surrounding area were evacuated until the direction of the wind and the flow of the gas were determined. After the assessment was made, the residents of all but three of the homes were allowed to return to their houses. Once the fire started, homes in the danger area were doused with water to prevent them from catching fire. More than 488,000 gallons of water were used to save the homes. None of the homes sustained fire damage; however, there was some water damage to the homes. The fire burned until about 2:38 a.m. this morning when NIPSCO crews out of Gary were able to patch the leak. Twenty-two firemen from Warsaw worked the incident, and a 13-man crew from Winona Lake which was called in to relieve exhausted Warsaw crews.
Link: "Gas Leak Erupts"
Times-Union Newspaper
UF Accident #6394
Warsaw, IN 05/26/2009
|
|
Gas
A gas leak forced about 30 people to evacuate their homes for almost two hours. A contractor doing excavation work on the street clipped a gas service line. The Lafayette Fire Department responded to the accident at approximately 11:30 a.m. A Vectren service crew was called to the scene, but residents had to be evacuated down the street while the situation was resolved. Once the gas leak was repaired, firefighters made sure gas in the residence was cleared out before allowing people back in their homes on the block.
Link: "Residents evacuated during gas leak"
Journal and Courier
UF Accident #6395
Lafayette, IN 05/26/2009
|
|
Gas
Crews were on the scene of a large gas leak in Park Rapids that shut down traffic outside of major retailer. The leak was reported by a cable crew trenching lines. A contractor struck the line shortly after 3:30 p.m. Gas could been seen seeping out of the line and emergency crews responding were barricading streets and keeping traffic a safe distance away as vapors of gas poured into the air. The store was not affected, but employees of an adjacent business on Henrietta were asked to leave the area.
Link: "Gas leak shuts down streets near Park Rapids Wal-Mart"
Park Rapids Enterprise
UF Accident #6396
Park Rapids, MN 05/26/2009
|
|
Gas
Workers from National Grid responded to the Brown University campus shortly after 11 a.m. on after a stake punctured a gas line on the college campus. The stake had been used to secure a tent for graduation ceremonies that took place over the weekend. The workers and several college security officers where in a quad area on the campus.
The problemwas resolved in less than an hour.
Link: "Tent stake causes gas leak at Brown University"
Providence Journal
UF Accident #6378
Providence, RI 05/25/2009
|
|
Gas
Verizon subcontractors performing underground utility work on struck gas lines twice in less than a month, forcing evacuations of residents and raising concerns that Dig Safe and utility companies have inaccurate maps for the area. The most recent incident occurred on Monday outside a councilwoman house. During the Town Council meeting, she said that the gas line break was a frightening experience for the entire neighborhood and the aroma of gas could be smelled hundreds of yards from the rupture. Adding to the concern is the fact that the accident was the second such incident. On April 30, a crew working for Verizon struck the gas main in the area. National Grid responded to the scene and the Fire Department established a safety perimeter while the leak was repaired. At that time, two houses were evacuated and portions of a roadway were blocked off. Residents alleged after the current accident that the subcontractor failed to notify 911 and National Grid when the break occurred and instead called Dig Safe. Residents suggested that the subcontractor was more worried about “pointing fingers” than public safety.
Link: "Gas leak prompts council action"
South County Independent
UF Accident #6388
Narragansett, RI 05/25/2009
|
|
Gas
A construction crew struck a gas line in downtown Oak Park prompting the evacuation of several businesses, town homes and apartment buildings for about two hours. The crew apparently struck a 2-inch high-pressure feeder line. To cap the leak the gas company had to dig back to the gas main, said a village spokesman. No one was injured in the incident.
Link: "Gas leak closes downtown Oak Park for three hours "
PioneerLocal.com
UF Accident #6381
Oak Park, IL 05/22/2009
|
|
Gas
A gas leak prompted a small evacuation but didn’t end up being particularly threatening, except when a man was found smoking a cigarette outside a nearby office complex. As the smell of natural gas intensified, the man smoking the cigarette put it out after being told he would receive a citation if he didn’t. The man was among a handful of onlookers and numerous fire department workers, and emergency vehicles, on the scene in case the situation became more dangerous. Abilene authorities evacuated 16 homes after a 4-inch low-pressure gas line was accidentally cut when city crews attempted to fix a water leak. The water department notified authorities of the gas leak at approximately 9 a.m. The situation was upgraded to a Hazmat (hazardous materials) issue, which required the use of more equipment, officials said.
Link: "Abilene homes evacuated, gas leak under control"
ReporterNews.com
UF Accident #6382
Abilene, TX 05/22/2009
|
|
Gas
Several homes were evacuated after a potentially dangerous gas leak. Pearl fire officials arrived on scene just after 8:30 a.m. City workers were laying sewer lines when they hit a gas line. Officials evacuated several homes in the area as a precaution until the leak was under control. It took just over an hour for workers to stop the gas leak.
Link: "Resident evacuated after gas leak"
WLBT 3
UF Accident #6380
Pearl, MS 05/22/2009
|
|
Gas
Residents were evacuated from their homes after crews shut off the gas to a 6-inch line that broke. Colorado Springs Utilities said the line was hit by a private contractor puncturing asphalt in the area. Utility crews and fire crews are on the scene attempting to control traffic and repair the break. The evacuations were a precaution, with local residents being alerted by emergency notification calls.
Link: "Evacuation Lifted in Gas Line Break on Austin Bluffs"
KRDO News Channel 13
UF Accident #6384
Colorado Springs, CO 05/22/2009
|
|
Gas
Authorities evacuated two businesses and closed a section of the street when natural gas leaked from a pipeline along the street. No one was injured; and there was no fire. The leak began when a company installing fiber-optic cable cut the pipeline carrying the natural gas. Seven people were evacuated from an car parts store and nearby office building. Employees with Frontier Natural Gas Co. repaired the pipeline and stopped the link. The street was reopened to traffic around 11:15 a.m.
Link: "Natural-gas leak causes evacuation of two businesses in Elkin"
JournalNow.com
UF Accident #6383
Elkin, NC 05/21/2009
|
|
Gas
A construction crew hit a natural-gas line forcing two roads to close for two hours.
The Goodyear Fire Department closed the roads after a backhoe struck the 4-inch gas line as crews worked on the site of a new store. Southwest Gas, which owns the gas line, was able to patch the leak.
Link: "Crew strikes natural-gas line "
The Arizona Republic
UF Accident #6377
Goodyear, AZ 05/21/2009
|
|
Gas
Administrative offices were evacuated at the Cheshire Correctional Institution after a landscaper broke a gas line on the property. A worker on the grounds was mowing the lawn directly in front of the main entrance to the facility when he ran over a gas pipe, causing a break and allowing gas to be released. The incident was immediately reported to the Cheshire Fire Department, which responded and evacuated administration officials from the front office building. According to the Cheshire Fire Chief, the gas leak was not significant and no injuries occurred as a result. In fact, because the leak occurred outside, there was little contamination within the building itself, the chief said.
Link: "Gas Leak Causes Evacuation At Correctional Facility"
The Cheshire Herald
UF Accident #6379
Cheshire, CT 05/21/2009
|
|
Gas
A contractor digging up an unused fuel tank on a vacant lot mistakenly struck gas and water lines at around 2 p.m. interrupting gas service for 40 to 45 households. PSE&G crews were on the scene trying to restore gas service to the households. According to a gas company spokesman, the PSE&G 12-inch gas main that is being repaired was clearly marked.
Link: "Gas service out for some Jersey City residents, as contractor breaks gas and water mains"
The Jersey Journal
UF Accident #6387
Jersey City, NJ 05/21/2009
|
|
Gas
A local road was closed nearly two hours after road reconstruction workers accidentally severed a high-pressure gas line. With the winds from the south, workers and patrons at a restaurant, across the street, were first to report the strong odor of gas just before 10 a.m. The loud hiss from the rupture could be heard over 200 yards from the break. Branch County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Quincy Fire Department crews quickly evacuated the businesses and homes in the area. Michigan Gas Utilities sent workers to shut off and begin repair of the line, which was located in a deep cut in the roadway near heavy equipment.
Link: "High-pressure gas line severed, shuts down US-12"
Coldwater Daily Reporter
UF Accident #6391
Quincy, MI 05/21/2009
|
|
Gas
A business was evacuated and the Metro Blue Line was temporarily shut down after a 2-inch gas line was hit by a backhoe during a construction project. Emergency crews responded to the call at 10:15 a.m. and the gas department quickly capped the leak. Although there was no fire and no injuries, 20 to 25 people were evacuated from the business and the Blue Line was shut. The Blue Line was back up and employees were allowed back in the building after about 30 minutes.
Link: "Gas leak leads to business evacuation, Blue Line shut down"
Contra Costa Times
UF Accident #6385
Long Beach, CA 05/20/2009
|
|
Gas
Emergency crews were on scene a gas line leak caused from a severed 6-inch gas main. The location was under construction for water and wastewater infrastructure when a work crew struck the pipe. Police and fire had the area cordoned off for about an hour and two homes were evacuted.
Link: "Work crew severed gas line on Boyne Street, Alliston"
madhunt.com
UF Accident #6390
Alliston, ON 05/20/2009
|
|
Water
A preliminary estimate of damage caused by the massive water main break that shut down an interstate is expected to tally to under $100,000. The break, caused by a contractor boring under the northbound ramp, released some 3.5 million gallons of water. The break happened shortly before 3 a.m. and spewed some four to five inches of mud and water onto both sides of the highway. According to the District Highway Director, the main had not been marked. A contractor was working to install a fiber-optics line when the break occurred. The work is part of a $31 million fiber-optics project for Interstate 91, from the Connecticut to Vermont state lines.
Link: "Water damage put at $100,000"
The Republican
UF Accident #6392
Springfield, MA 05/20/2009
|
|
Water
Traffic heading down a interstate highway was diverted to a different exit after portions of a highway were closed because of a water main break. A crew working on a ramp of the interstate hit a pipe causing major flooding and knocking out water to several surrounding areas. Because of the water outage, schools in the area were delayed for two hours.
Link: "Massive water main break closes Interstate 91, schools delayed"
ABC 40
UF Accident #6376
Forest Park, MA 05/20/2009
|
|
Gas
A ruptured gas line prompted officials to evacuate several homes. City workers cut the 2-inch gas line they assumed was a dead line. Several homes around the gas line were voluntarily evacuated.
Link: "Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations"
KTUL Channel 8
UF Accident #6373
Tulsa, OK 05/19/2009
|
|
Gas
A local highway was closed following a natural gas leak. Goose Creek police closed the highway, after a crew, working on a water line project hit a 2-inch gas line. Nearly 100 customers also lost service as a result of the gas leak. No evacuations were necessary.
Link: "Crews continue to work on gas line"
WCBD 2
UF Accident #6374
Goose Creek, SC 05/19/2009
|
|
Gas
A local gas station was closed after the property owner cut a 2-inch gas line while digging. Fire officials said the property owner was using a backhoe to dig into the hillside next to his business when he ruptured the line. A fire official said there was no immediate danger outside the gas station area and the gas was turned off at the station. The property owner said he has owned the land for more than 30 years and was not aware of the line's location.
Link: "Crews Respond To Gas Leak In Belmont County"
wtov9.com
UF Accident #6372
Belmont County, OH 05/18/2009
|
|
Gas
A highway was closed after gas workers repaired a 6-inch plastic gas line that the company believes was damaged during a water line project in the town of Erwin. About 20 families who live in the area of the ruptured line were evacuated during repairs. They were allowed to return to their homes when the highway was reopened about two hours after the accident.
Link: "Gas leak leads to evacuations, highway closure"
stargazette.com
UF Accident #6375
Erwin, NY 05/18/2009
|
|
Gas
UDPATE: A local moving company and taxi cab provider incurred fines announced by the state Public Utility Commission (PUC), while a regional natural gas provider faces a $35,000 assessment for incidents that included a damaged pipeline in West Mifflin. The commission issued a proposed settlement with the natural gas provider that would require the utility to pay $35,000. Of that amount, $5,000 would be a civil penalty to contractors who participate in the Low-Income Usage Reduction Plan, while $30,000 would go toward an educational program addressing safety-related issues associated with natural gas. The settlement stems from an investigation of three incidents. The PUC said a contractor damaged a pipeline on June 8, 2007. An excavator hit a gas line as it was performing construction work behind a community college parking lot. Two homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure and service was cut off temporarily to 15 residential and commercial customers. Later, gas company employees went to some 50 homes and businesses to reignite pilot lights. Officials said no one knew the gas line was there. A commission Gas Safety Division inspector found that the gas company personnel did not mark accurately the gas main in the proposed area of excavation. According to a PUC spokesperson, the gas company’s contractor did not locate the pipeline because the actual location of the pipeline on a map was misinterpreted. The other incidents involved a backhoe damaging a service line on May 2, 2007, in Tyrone, Blair County, and a June 2007 finding that three gas company employees utilized for valve maintenance at Wilkinsburg, Altoona and Kiski facilities were not qualified.
Link: "PUC issues fines to local and regional companies "
The Daily News
UF Accident #6361
West Mifflin, PA 05/15/2009
|
|
Gas
Local traffic was shut down after a construction crew working on a light rail line struck and severed a natural gas line. There were no injuries. Soon after the accident was reported, Questar Gas arrived at the scene and kinked the pliable 4-inch gas line. Workers were digging to install a concrete drainpipe near the residential area as part of the light rail line construction project when equipment nicked the pipeline at about 6 p.m.
Link: "Construction crews sever West Jordan gas line"
Deseret News
UF Accident #6363
West Jordan, UT 05/15/2009
|
|
Gas
Portions of a street were closed for several hours and 10 homes evacuated after a natural gas line was damaged. A private work crew was working in the area when a worker ruptured a 4-inch gas main causing a fire surrounding a piece of construction equipment. The gas was shut off and the fire extinguished within 3 hours of the accident. The South Holland fire and police departments had had personnel on-site since soon after the main break.
Link: "S. Holland gas main break shut off"
ChicagoBreakingNewsCenter.com
UF Accident #6366
South Holland, IL 05/15/2009
|
|
Gas
Fifteen residents of a condominium complex were evacuated following a ruptured gas line. A contractor working in the parking lot of the condominium complex broke through the street shortly after 9 a.m. and busted a 2-inch gas line. An Orange and Rockland Utilities worker shut the gas valve off allowing residents to return to their homes within the hour. The gas company will investigate the cause of the accident.
Link: "Nanuet condos evacuated after contractor cracks gas line"
LoHud.com
UF Accident #6364
Nanuet, NY 05/14/2009
|
|
Gas
Trains were stopped, a local business evacuated and a street closed after a contractor hit and damaged a 2-inch high pressure gas line while working in the area. Officials are investigating a gas leak.
Link: "Gas Leak Reported In White Marsh"
WJZ.com
UF Accident #6360
White Marsh, MD 05/13/2009
|
|
Comm
A health care facility lost phone service for a few hours after the lines were damaged. Workers on a road construction project in the area accidentally severed the main phone line. Several area residents and a community clinic also lost service for several hours.
Link: "Phone service cut off"
Fort Frances Times Online
UF Accident #6368
Fort Frances, ON 05/13/2009
|
|
Gas
A geyser of gas shot through the air causing traffic snarls and gas outages after contractors working on the realignment of a road ruptured a gas line. The contractor struck a 4-inch high-pressure transmission gas line while excavating with a track hoe for a drainage culvert. The geyser of gas vented straight up past the scooping arm of the track hoe and a smaller PECO backhoe for nearly an hour and a half. PECO was immediately notified, but fire officials said they were not called for about a half hour later when a resident called 911. About 40 PECO customers were affected.
Link: "Excavator rips gas line"
TheReporterOnline.com
UF Accident #6362
Towamencin, PA 05/12/2009
|
|
Gas
Several homes were evacuated as a safety precaution after a gas line sprung a leak near in the area. Billings Fire Department responded to the call at the site where road construction was being done at an intersection near a large retaining wall where a new road was being built. Firefighters remained on the scene for an hour until a Montana-Dakota Utilities crew shut the gas off.
Link: "Gas line breaks near Airport Road"
Billings Gazette
UF Accident #6367
Billings, MT 05/12/2009
|
|
Comm
Nearly 300 AT&T phone customers were left without service for several days after a line was damaged. The severed line initially disrupted service to more than 700 customers after a third party damaged cables located underneath Burlington Northern railroad tracks during a construction project. Restoration efforts began as soon as AT&T was able to obtain permits to work within the train yard.
Link: "Phone outage could last until Tuesday"
Riverside/Brookfield Landmark
UF Accident #6369
Riverside, IL 05/12/2009
|
|
Gas
A construction crew struck a 2-inch gas line, forcing the evacuation of a store and the Federal Building. Va. Natural Gas crews repaired the high-pressure line about 90 minutes after the break occurred allowing the store to re-open. The break also closed several downtown streets. Construction crews are working on the light rail system.
Link: "Gas line break forces some evacuations in downtown Norfolk "
WVEC.com
UF Accident #6357
Norfolk, VA 05/11/2009
|
|
Gas
An entire neighborhood was evacuated by Southfield after a construction worker hit a 4-inch gas line. Crews were working on a sewer line when they punctured the plastic gas line. Just after noon, firefighters were going door-to-door to evacuate residents from the area. No injuries are reported. Consumers Energy crews responded to the scene for repairs.
Link: "Gas Line Break In Southfield"
WWJ 950
UF Accident #6365
Southfield, MI 05/11/2009
|
|
Comm
Telephone communications was interrupted after electric company workers accidently cut a main Telstra line. The workers were had removed an old low-voltage service pole. They were using a borer to clean out the existing hole. When they pulled the borer from the hole, workers noticed they had damaged the telecommunications line. A Telstra regional general manager said the severed cable required the replacement of a 1.25km section of cable. The damaged cable had cut all landline phone communications in Allora and mobile coverage in some areas had also been interrupted. The spokesman said “set procedures” for recovering costs were in place for when service providers damaged each other's cables. A spokesman for the electric company indicated that the crew had carried out the proper checks on the location of the cables prior to digging.
Link: "Phone drama fix expected "
Warwick Daily News
UF Accident #6370
Warwick, Queensland 05/11/2009
|
|
Gas
AAccess to a local street was blocked for about an hour following a ruptured gas line. Most residents were not home but landscapers were ordered away from the the intersection of the two streets after a contractor backfilling a hole broke open a high pressure natural gas line. According to officials, a private contractor hired by the town took precautions to dig around the gas line while making repairs to a water main. The gas line ruptured as the excavating equipment used by the contractor filled the hole with dirt.
Link: "Gas line rupture prompts evacuation of Marblehead street"
The Daily Item of Lynn
UF Accident #6350
Marblehead, MA 05/08/2009
|
|
Gas
A contractor caused an outdoor gas leak by digging through a plastic 2-inch gas line with a backhoe. Fire and PG&E crews responded and cleared the area around the leak, but they did not evacuate any nearby residents or businesses. Gas started leaking at 2:45 p.m. and stopped leaking at 4:20 p.m. Four homes temporarily lost gas service as a result of the accident. The fire and PG&E crews worked around the backhoe, rather than switching it on and moving it, because they didn’t want to spark an explosion.
Link: "Gas leak repaired in Noe Valley"
San Francisco Examiner
UF Accident #6344
San Francisco, CA 05/07/2009
|
|
Gas
Emergencies crews worked quickly to halt a potential disaster after a city worker accidentally severed a 2-inch natural gas line. The break occurred about 8:30 a.m. and by 9:27, crews from four agencies teamed to shut three points on gas lines that completed a loop of supply lines. About 25 workers from the Rolla Fire Department, the Street Department, Rolla Municipal Utilities and AmerenUE teamed to make sure the gas was shuttered before repairs could be made. Shortly after the break, gas could be smelled as far away as Rolla’s downtown area . There were no evacuations of people from homes in the area. The break necessitated the cessation of gas flow at three other points, two closures of the 6-inch gas main that supplied the line severed and the 2-inch line beyond the break. The break occurred where city crews were relocating a parking lot for a church. Part of a deal between the church and the city allows for the construction of the new lot at the intersection to replace the one that will be lost because of the construction of a highway extension. Only one customer lost gas service for about an hour as the repairs were made.
Link: "Crews repair severed gas line near Ridgeview"
The Rolla Daily News
UF Accident #6356
Rolla, MO 05/07/2009
|
|
Gas
Authorities evacuated about 25 homes in rural Pepin County following an incident involving a natural gas pipeline. A farmer using a backhoe scraper in his field hit the 8-inch diameter pipeline. Residents living within a 1/2-mile radius of the site in were asked to leave the area.
Link: "Natural gas leak forces evacuations in Pepin County"
The Red Wing Republican Eagle
UF Accident #6347
Pepin County, WI 05/06/2009
|
|
Gas
A towering fire resulting from a ruptured gas line melted nearby cars. According to San Antonio fire chief, the fire started when a trenching machine cut a 30-inch gas main. He said about 500 pounds of natural gas was fueling the fire. The fireball caused by the subsequent explosion shot more than 60 feet into the air. The explosion and fire happened around 10:15 a.m. and forced several neighboring businesses to evacuate. Utilities were shut off within in a one-mile radius of the accident. The fire was extinguished by noon. Investigators said a construction crew hit the gas line while digging. CPS Energy officials want to know how the private construction crew missed markers for the gas line. CPS Energy has launched an investigation.
Link: "Investigation launched after crew ruptures gas line"
WOAI
UF Accident #6351
San Antonio, TX 05/06/2009
|
|
Gas
Only one gas customer lost service after a gas line was ruptured. Fire crews as well as repair teams from Roanoke Gas Co. responded to the leak. The incident occurred about 1:30 p.m. when a contractor was doing some excavation to build a retaining wall and accidentally cut into the line.
Link: "Southwest Roanoke gas line ruptures amid excavation work"
The Roanoke Times
UF Accident #6352
Roanoke, VA 05/06/2009
|
|
Water
An office complex lost water service after a line was damaged by construction workers. A private contractor working at the complex broke the line forcing workers to shut off the water main. Company officials contacted the city and the Department of Public Works sent staff to conduct an emergency shutdown of the water main feeding that office complex at the intersection. No other homes or businesses in the area will be affected by the water-main closure.
Link: "Contractor hits water main at Consumers Union in Yonkers"
LoHud.com
UF Accident #6355
Yonkers, NY 05/06/2009
|
|
Gas
Several blocks of Park Rapids were cordoned when workers trenching a residential sewer line struck a clearly marked gas line, sending a brief vapor of gas into the air. Several law enforcement agencies and the Park Rapids Fire Department responded, keeping spectators a safe distance away. Firefighters expressed some frustration that the situation had occurred since orange flags marked the gas line’s location from the house. The gas leak was quickly contained and the crews resumed working.
Link: "Gas leak briefly detours traffic through Park Rapids"
Morris Sun Tribune
UF Accident #6345
Park Rapids, MN 05/05/2009
|
|
Gas
Eight people were evacuated from homes and businesses because of a gas leak. Utility crews tunneling for underground power lines hit an unmarked gas line. Firefighters from Forest Grove and Cornelius, wearing protective gear, were on-scene. They evacuated people from 15 structures affected by a visible cloud of vapor. Crews from Northwest Natural Gas arrived at 11:30 a.m. and had the leak under control within about 15 minutes. After determining conditions were safe, crews allowed residents to return to their homes at 12:45 p.m.
Link: "Gas leak affects 8"
OregonLive.com
UF Accident #6346
Forest Grove, OR 05/05/2009
|
|
Gas
Several homes and businesses in a six street area were evacuated following a ruptured gas line. A construction crew struck an Energy Co-Op gas line while installing a new drain tile for the city. Fire units from New Lexington, Roseville and Newton Township also responded, as well as emergency squads from Crooksville, Roseville and Community Ambulance. It took about an hour for personnel from the Energy Co-Op to arrive to shut the gas off. The evacuation was conducted as a precaution.
Link: "Gas leak triggers evacuation"
Zanesville Times Recorder
UF Accident #6348
Crooksville, OH 05/05/2009
|
|
Gas
A major street was closed for several hours following what officials called a significant gas line break. Police officials said they received a report of a gas line break at about 9:30 a.m. when a contractor working for the city hit a 4-inch medium pressure plastic gas line while digging. No customers were without service and no injuries were reported.
Link: "Gas line break closes Kings Daughters Drive "
The State Journal
UF Accident #6349
Frankfort, KY 05/05/2009
|
|
Gas
Traffic was disrupted in the area of a natural gas leak. Contract construction workers installing new water lines for the City of Weatherford struck a natural gas pipeline, causing the release of explosive gas. At approximately 3:15, shortly before the afternoon school traffic rush, a backhoe operator working ruptured a short, 2-inch stub protruding from a 4-inch natural gas line. Officials with Texas Gas Service arrived at the scene shortly after the break was reported. Technicians plugged the broken line and initiated repairs. A representative for the construction company said the gas line was not marked. After the incident, City of Weatherford employees marked additional utility lines in the area.
Link: "Gas leak contained near South Main"
Weatherford Democrat
UF Accident #6354
Weatherford, TX 05/05/2009
|
|
Water
A Denver Highlands neighborhood was flooded after a broken water main sent water gushing into the air. A construction crew hit the main and that created a 150 foot geyser until Denver Water could get it turned off. The water was forceful enough to break windows on a house causing some flooding.
Link: "Water Main Break Sends Water 150 Feet Into Air"
CBS4.com
UF Accident #6358
Denver, CO 05/05/2009
|
|
Gas
A local street was closed during rush hour after a natural gas line was struck. A private contractor punctured the line. It was repaired about 10:30 a.m.
Link: "Natural gas line punctured in Minneapolis"
StarTribune.com
UF Accident #6341
Minneapolis, MN 05/04/2009
|
|
Gas
A stretch of roadway was shut down for about three hours when road workers ruptured a gas main causing natural gas to stream into the air. Traffic was also diverted in the area while repairs were made to the 2-inch pipe that was broken by a worker using a backhoe. Three people in a nearby house were evacuated as a precaution.
Link: "Gas main break shuts down part of Macon"
Macon.com
UF Accident #6342
Macon, GA 05/04/2009
|
|
Gas
Six homes were evacuated for a couple hours after a contractor hit a natural gas main. The fire chief said the decision to evacuate three homes to the east and west of the break was precautionary. The contractor was installing a sewer line when the main was hit. A National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. spokeswoman said about five customers were without service as the main was being repaired.
Link: "Gas leak prompts evacuation"
Sharon Herald
UF Accident #6353
Pymatuning, PA 05/04/2009
|
|
Gas
Eight Forest Grove residents were evacuated from their homes after a local utility crew ruptured a gas line in a subdivision on the west side of town. Utility workers hit a 2-inch gas line while tunneling for underground power lines. Forest Grove Fire & Rescue arrived in the area shortly after 10:15 a.m. and found a vapor cloud in the area. The fire crew, which was aided by the Cornelius Fire Department, entered the scene with protective gear to evacuate local residents. About 15 structures were effected, with seven adults and one child being temporarily sheltered in a bus while crews from Northwest Natural Gas worked to stop the leak at approximately 11:45 a.m.. Emergency personnel remained on scene until 12:45 p.m. to ensure all traces of natural gas had dissipated and it was safe for residents to return to their homes.
Link: "Ruptured gas line causes evacuation in Forest Grove"
The Forest Grove News-Times
UF Accident #6339
Forest Grove, OR 04/29/2009
|
|
Gas
Several streets in an Alton neighborhood were shutdown after a gas leak in the area. A construction crew was working in the area when they accidentally hit an underground gas line. No evacuations were ordered, but several streets were closed while a gas company repaired the leak.
Link: "Gas Leak Forces Street Closure"
KRGV.com
UF Accident #6340
Alton, TX 04/29/2009
|
|
Water
About 50 village homes are without water after workers accidentally hit a main line. The accident happened after workers trying to install new sewer lines in the village mistakenly broke a main water pipe. One home near the intersection experienced flooding. Volunteers from the Sloatsburg Fire Department used hoses to re-fill a water tank that supplies some area homes with drinking water. The village has experienced a number of water line breaks over the past eight weeks as workers have been trying to install new sewer lines, a village official said. According to the official, the accidents are happening because of inaccurate maps.
Link: "50 Sloatsburg homes without water as repairs continue"
LoHud.com
UF Accident #6337
Sloatsburg, NY 04/28/2009
|
|
Gas
A school, day care center, several office buildings and a condominium complex were evacuated after a gas main was ruptured. Shortly before 8:20 a.m., a construction crew broke a 2-inch natural gas main. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. crews repaired the gas main and allowed the businesses to re-open.
Link: "Ruptured Walnut Creek Gas Main Repaired"
CBS5.com
UF Accident #6338
Walnut Crreek, CA 04/28/2009
|
|
Gas
A contractor installing traffic signals struck a gas main forcing the closure of a major street for several hours. A backhoe struck a 2-inch main, breaking it. National Grid said an emergency crew arrived on scene at 5:06 a.m. and the main was repaired at 6:57 a.m., when the road was reopened. The outage affected 54 customers. No injuries were reported.
Link: "Gas leak closes Route 25 in Centereach for hours"
NewsDay.com
UF Accident #6334
Centereach, NY 04/27/2009
|
|
Power
Power was lost in a section of town after a main power line was damaged. The damage was caused when a contractor for the telephone company was boring under the street to install a fiber optic line for telecommunications. The contractor hit the line and electric customers in the area were without power. The outage, which lasted about an hour, was extended because some other equipment was damaged. Telephone company officials said the department would be keeping up with all repair costs associated with the damaged line and billing the contractor for the work.
Link: "Outage caused by damaged power line"
Herald-Citizen
UF Accident #6343
Cookeville, TN 04/27/2009
|
|
Gas
A man digging a hole to plant a tree for Earth Day pierced a plastic natural-gas line and caused a leak There was no fire and no one was injured, but firefighters told employees of a nearby restaurant to close their drive-thru lane until the line was repaired. A man at the home was swinging a pick to cut through stubborn tree roots when he split the line, which was about 12 to 18 inches below ground. A crew with NW Natural gas went to the scene and had the leak stopped about 3:50 p.m.
Link: "Tree planter breaks natural gas line at Camas home"
Columbian.com
UF Accident #6335
Camas, WA 04/24/2009
|
|
Comm
Workers at the county courthouse were without internet service after a main cable was damaged. Workers for a sidewalk replacement project at the courthouse ruptured the line leaving employees without access to internet service. The workers were digging up the brick sidewalks around the courthouse to replace them with concrete when the accident happened.
Link: "Internet out at Madison County Courthouse after sidewalk crew cuts cable"
The Huntsville Times
UF Accident #6331
Huntsville, AL 04/23/2009
|
|
Gas
Two businesses were evacuated shortly after 3:30 p.m. when an underground 2-inch natural gas pipeline was ruptured during digging related to the expansion of one of the businesses. While no roads were closed, emergency personnel asked people to stay away from the area. Town of Watertown fire and ambulance personnel, as well as sheriff's deputies, prevented motorists from turning into the entrances to the businesses, and stood by until a National Grid crew arrived at 4:42 p.m. The break was capped about 5:20 p.m.
Link: "Walmart, Red Lobster cleared due to gas leak"
Watertown Daily Times
UF Accident #6332
Watertown, NY 04/23/2009
|
|
Gas
Six houses were cordoned off and four people evacuated from their homes following reports of a gas leak. Police, firefighters and National Grid engineers were called to scene about 2.30pm after a 4-inch metal gas pipe was cut through while a water main was being disconnected. Motorists were urged to avoid the area, and the road was also closed both ways as a precaution while engineers safely repaired the pipe. After three hours, residents were able to return to their homes and the road reopened at about 5.10pm.Gas supplies were not cut off to any of the properties.
Link: "Houses evacuated after gas leak"
Peter Borough Today
UF Accident #6333
Stamford, Uk 04/23/2009
|
|
Gas
For almost 45 minutes police were diverting traffic around the site of a ruptured natural gas line. The gas line was cut while Questar employees were upsizing that line from a 1-inch plastic gas line to a 2-inch line. According to an official, unknown to the crew working on the line was a large sewer drain, so the gas line came up a little bit higher and the shovel hit the line. The impact of the shovel broke the line and required that the gas service be cut off to two businesses while the damaged portion of the line was cut out and replaced. Within minutes, about 500 feet away, another contractor accidentally hit a gas line. Questar employees on the scene for the first break were able to get it repaired quickly. Businesses in the area did not need to be evacuated, and the gas leaks were contained within an hour.
Link: "Traffic diverted because of gas leak"
Standard.Net
UF Accident #6316
Ogden, UT 04/21/2009
|
|
Gas
Private contractor accidentally severed a 12-inch gas main about 20 feet away from the nursing home section of a senior care facility at 9:19 a.m. The St. Paul fire department considered evacuating residents of the senior center at the, but the strong southeasterly winds blowing away from the nursing home allowed them to keep residents inside the building until the leak was fixed. Xcel Energy crews fixed the leak about 30 minutes later. The Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety will investigate the accident. More than 30 private homes near the gas line break were without gas for most of the day.
Link: "Construction crew hits gas main in St. Paul"
KARE 11
UF Accident #6327
St. Paul, MN 04/21/2009
|
|
Power
Traffic signals were lost after a contractor severed an underground power lines that feed traffic signals and street lights in the area, a city spokeswoman said. The outages were reported around noon when the lines were cut by a contractor operating a backhoe. Police officers directed traffic at the intersections until power could be restored to the traffic signals.
Link: "Traffic signals restored in downtown Fort Worth"
Star-Telegram
UF Accident #6328
Fort Worth, TX 04/21/2009
|
|
Sewer
A NIPSCO crew directional-boring a natural-gas line has once again ruptured a sanitary sewer pipe. The same 12-inch clay pipe, actually, that was damaged a couple of weeks ago, only a few hundred feet further to the south. A town engineer said that evidence of the rupture was discovered when a collections crew was jetting the pipe and began to create a sink hole in the area . The site was hydro-excavated and it was found that the NIPSCO crew had not only bored through the pipe, but then pulled back the apparatus and for an unknown reason bored under the pipe as well. A repair crew was on site for nearly 12 hours, in what proved to be a major operation requiring two trench boxes and additional shoring efforts due to the saturated ground. Only St. Paul Lutheran Church is connected to the sanitary sewer pipe at that part of the line. Its drains and toilets were monitored closely to ensure that there were no backups. A crew planned to video the entire line to determine if workers had inadvertently bored through that pipe in any other locations. NIPSCO at the time was installing a natural-gas lateral to the Davies-Rensberger business as part of the South Calumet District project.
Link: "NIPSCO bores through another sanitary sewer"
Chesterton Tribune
UF Accident #6329
Chesterton, IN 04/21/2009
|
|
Gas
A water line replacement project led to a potentially dangerous situation in downtown Topeka. Crews were working on the waterline in front of TPAC when a backhoe hit a gas line. Fire crews and representatives from Kansas Gas Service were on the scene, until they could get the gas leak sealed and the situation under control.
Link: "Gas leak downtown"
KTKA.com
UF Accident #6320
Topeka, KS 04/20/2009
|
|
Gas
A gas line break forced the closure of a portion of a highway. The gas line rupture occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. while work was being done to install sewer lines. The Iberia Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 arrived on the scene, and, after determining there was escaping gas, closed the roadway to through traffic. A crew was installing a sewer line at the site for Centerpoint Energy. All work ceased as the break was reported, allowing emergency responders time to arrive and secure the area. Once traffic was diverted repairs began. Although the road closure was requested, no nearby evacuations were ordered. The road reopened at approximately 4:30 p.m. with no problems due to the gas leak.
Link: "Gas line breaks; road closed "
The Daily Iberian
UF Accident #6326
Iberia Parish, LA 04/20/2009
|
|
Gas
The Utica Fire Department and National Grid responded to a minor natural gas leak caused when a resident severed the gas line leading to his home. He was installing a small fence when he heard the gas-line open and evacuated the area. There were no injuries caused by the gas leak.
Link: "Utica Fire Department responds to minor gas leak, new telephone number available for gas-line information before digging"
WKTV.com
UF Accident #6322
Utica, NY 04/18/2009
|
|
Gas
Police closed a roadway during end of the morning commute because a construction crew broke a gas line. The crew is doing water main work for the town and accidentally broke open a gas line while digging which caused a gas leak about 9:10 a.m. Police reopened the road at 9:45 a.m. No one was injured or evacuated because of the accident.
Link: "Crew breaks gas line in North Andover "
The Eagle-Tribune
UF Accident #6319
North Andover, MA 04/17/2009
|
|
Gas
Employees of a pharmaceutical company were evacuated because of a ruptured natural gas line. The line, on the business’ property, was struck at 4:06 p.m. by a crew performing contract work for the company. Workers for the contractor dug into the ground with a backhoe and hit a gas line about 20 feet away from the building and about the same distance from the nearby railroad tracks. The company was installing a sewer line. Gas spewed from the line for 30 minutes before it was capped. This also forced a 15-minute closure of the CSX railroad line. No roads were closed.
Link: "Gas Line Rupture Leads to Evacuation at King Pharmaceuticals"
TriCities.com
UF Accident #6318
Bristol, TN 04/17/2009
|
|
Gas
Nearby businesses were evacuated after a contractor laying a water system hit a gas line. The contractor, who was working for the Suffolk County Water Authority, ruptured the gas line with a backhoe at about 12:20 p.m. A section of a county road was closed after the break, which brought fire crews and National Grid workers. The leak was stopped by 1:45 p.m. No one was injured. The gas line was not on the map the contractor was using, police said. National Grid said 10 houses were out of service.
Link: "Ruptured gas line prompts evacuations"
Newsday.com
UF Accident #6311
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 04/17/2009
|
|
Gas
A construction crew working in southeast Salem hit and broke a natural-gas line. About 1 p.m., Marion County Fire District No. 1 crews responded to the reported leak. The broken line was under the driveway of a residence. Several streets were closed, and gas to the line was shut off just before 2 p.m., People in the home and neighbors were evacuated. Two nearby schools were put on lockdown while crews shut off the gas. Both schools were released at their scheduled times without problems.
Link: "Streets closed, schools are locked down during gas leak"
Statesman Journal
UF Accident #6321
Salem, OR 04/16/2009
|
|
Gas
UPDATE: A gas leak that led to evacuations at and around the University of Utah on March 24 resulted when a line marker company didn't tell construction crews that bad weather had prevented them from doing their job. A contractor using boring equipment struck a 6-inch plastic line around causing gas to leak under the ground at the intersection. The gas was shut off after two hours, and no injuries were reported. A Questar spokesman said the construction crews that hit the utility had no way of knowing there was a gas line buried under the ground -- it was never marked. The spokesman said the contract locating company Questar uses to mark gas lines sent a line locator out to paint the ground so construction crews would know which areas to avoid. But the worker saw snow and slush on the road that would wash away the paint and chose instead to return the next day for another try. The problem was the contract locators did tell anyone, and the construction crew moved forward with the digging. By the time the line locator arrived, it was too late. The construction worker had already hit the line. According to the Questar spokesman, the contract locating firm will have to pay for the costs of Questar workers responding to the scene and for the price of the lost gas.
Link: "University gas leak caused by communication snag"
The Salt Lake Tribune
UF Accident #6313
Salt Lake City, UT 04/16/2009
|
|
Gas
Parts of a shopping center were evacuated following a hit to a gas line. A contractor was digging holes for foundation piles near the east side of the mall, when an auger hit a 4-inch gas line. According to ATCO Gas, the contractor had received a locate from Alberta One Call, but it had expired. It is not known if the contractor exposed the line by hand, as required by law. Edmonton police assisted with the evacuation. The gas line hit left half the shopping center without gas. ATCO was able to find the underground gas valve and cap the line in about two hours.
Link: "Contractor hits gas line near West Edmonton Mall "
Journal of Commerce
UF Accident #6325
Edmonton, BC 04/15/2009
|
|
Power
About 70,000 homes and businesses lost power for two hours when a major power cable failed during peak time. Initial inspections found it was damaged in a previous incident involving a digging machine, but the problem was never reported to Energy Australia. It is believed a backhoe involved in road work several years ago at may have hit a major power cable and weakened it. The Energy Minister said measures designed to protect electricity cables will be stepped up there have been 80 blackouts caused by construction activity in the last year. According to the Energy Minister, people are not following the program for “Dial Before you Dig.” He said he will look at the Energy Supply Act to see if they can tighten the regulation to ensure people will check before they dig to prevent this sort of damage.
Link: "Backhoe to blame for Sydney blackout"
ABC News
UF Accident #6305
Sydney, Australia 04/15/2009
|
|
Gas
Sections of a high school and several homes in the surrounding area were evacuated as workers shore up a gas leak, a Fort Lauderdale city spokesman said. The leak is believed to be coming from an underground PVC pipe at the intersection. The pipe was reportedly ruptured by a construction crew about 10:30 a.m.
Link: "Gas leak forces Stranahan High evacuation"
The Miami Herald
UF Accident #6314
Miami, FL 04/15/2009
|
|
Gas
A retirement facility was partially evacuated following a gas leak. According to fire officials, there were no injuries, and the gas had pretty much dissipated by 10:30 a.m. after TECO Peoples Gas emptied the line just in case. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Collier County EMS and TECO crews also responded to the leak, which temporarily closed two westbound lanes on U.S. 41. A TECO Peoples Gas spokesman said most of the gas leaks are due to third party damage such as a landscaper, a contractor or another utility company. A Collier County transportation department spokeswoman confirmed that a construction crew working on a canal expansion project hit a 2-inch feeder gas line, which caused the leak and temporarily closed the flow of traffic on U.S. 41.
Link: "East Naples retirement facility evacuated after gas leak "
Naples Daily News
UF Accident #6315
Naples, FL 04/15/2009
|
|
Gas
Dozens of residents were forced from their homes after workers ruptured a natural gas line. The evacuation lasted for about three hours. The evacuation was precautionary. No injured were reported.
Link: "GAS LEAK:SOME TENSE MOMENTS IN GANANOQUE THIS MORNING"
CKWS Television
UF Accident #6306
Gananoque, ON 04/14/2009
|
|
Comm
Construction workers cut an AT&T fiber optic cable shutting down telephone service and computer access at 166 of 230 court offices across the state. AT&T utility workers repaired the severed line, and court computers across the state were back online by early afternoon. The disruption in service lasted for several hours and disrupted normal court activity. Law enforcement officers could not check records, calls could not be made or received and staff had o access to information whether by telephone or by Internet. The cut prevented the clerk’s office from answering calls from residents trying to confirm court dates and courtrooms where hearings would be held. A magistrate in one county said the outage prevented him from setting appropriate bail for defendants because he could not check their prior criminal history. Magistrates were also unable to check whether a defendant had outstanding warrants or pending charges.
Link: "Courts lose phone and computer service"
The News & Observer
UF Accident #6307
Raleigh, NC 04/14/2009
|
|
Gas
A crew working to repair a sewer line broke a 4-inch gas main, forcing the evacuation of a high school. Fire officials said because of the potential fire danger, cars parked near the school could not be moved Streets had already been blocked for the sewer work, but the gas break forced more detours.
Link: "School evacuated after gas main break"
Fort Mill Times
UF Accident #6308
Columbus, GA 04/14/2009
|
|
Water
A contractor working on road repairs hit a water main line resulting in a right lane closure. The accident occurred during rush hour causing major delays.
Link: "Lane closures slow commute at Arapahoe and Jordan "
YourHub.com
UF Accident #6309
Arapahoe County, CO 04/14/2009
|
|
Water
Construction workers accidentally broke a 16-inch water main causing water pressure to drop for area residents. A contractor working on a property about 300 yards west of a sports arena breached a pipe owned by the Harrison Water Department at about 1:30 p.m. Although no customers lost service, water pressure in the area dropped below normal levels. An estimated 40,000 to 60,000 of gallons of water were lost in the half hour it took to divert water away from the breach. Regular service was restored shortly after 4 p.m.
Link: "Water main break a big headache in Harrison"
The Jersey Journal
UF Accident #6303
Harrison, NJ 04/13/2009
|
|
Gas
A construction crew broke a gas line causing a road to be closed for hours during rush hour. The crew was using an auger and hit a 4-inch gas line. No one was hurt and no one was evacuated from the area.
Link: "Gas line hit in NW Austin; FM 620 reopens"
KEYE TV.com
UF Accident #6299
Austin, TX 04/09/2009
|
|
Gas
A broken 2-inch natural gas main forced the evacuation of a dozen people in midtown Tucson and disrupted traffic, authorities said. A construction crew installing a storm drain broke the line about 9:35 a.m. People were evacuated from buildings on the intersection's northeast corner. The leak was shut off at 9:45 a.m. and shortly after the street was open and people were allowed to return to the buildings. No injuries were reported during the incident.
Link: "People return to midtown buildings after gas leak forced evacuation"
Tucson Citizen
UF Accident #6297
Tucson, AZ 04/08/2009
|
|
Gas
A natural gas leak at the Northwest Florida Regional Airport closed the entrance to the facility for a short period, but did not delay any flights. Construction crews were working on the east parking lot at the airport when a natural gas main was hit with an auger, causing the leak. The land had previously been surveyed and the utilities located by the construction company, however the gas line had not been properly identified by the gas company, said an airport spokesperson. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Eglin Air Force Base's fire department and the county's EMS responded to the gas leak, as did Okaloosa Gas, which had to shut off the gas. The entrance to the airport was initially closed for about 20 minutes after the leak occurred. The airport's entrance was initially reopened, but its normal exits remained closed. Those wanting to leave the airport had to do a U-turn and leave from the entrance. Okaloosa Gas had the leak shut off about 35 minutes after it started and were working on repairing the damaged line.
Link: "Airport operations normal after gas leak "
Northwest Florida Daily News
UF Accident #6298
Okaloosa County, FL 04/08/2009
|
|
Sewer
A NIPSCO crew directional-boring a new natural-gas line ruptured a sanitary sewer pipe. The rupture was discovered around 3 p.m. after toilets in the neighborhood, including one at a bank branch, began bubbling up. NIPSCO was directional-boring from west to east when it hit the pipe, buried beneath the shoulder the roadway. A crew responded to the scene within 20 minutes of getting the call about the break. It staged its heavy equipment, excavated the rupture and installed a trench box. The main difficulty in repairing the rupture was the saturation of the ground following the heavy rain earlier in the week causing the trench to keep collapsing. A vacuum truck was brought in to suck up the ground water so repairs could be made.
Link: "NIPSCO bores hole in sanitary sewer line on 100E"
Chesterton Tribune
UF Accident #6300
Chesterton, IN 04/08/2009
|
|
Comm
AT&T confirmed that a cable cut by a third party contractor resulted in telephone and DSL service outages for a number of AT&T customers in the northern part of Shelbyville. An AT&T spokeswoman could not immediately supply the number of customers affected or how long it would take to get everyone back online.
Link: "AT&T confirms outage"
Shelbyville Times-Gazette
UF Accident #6302
Shelbyville, TN 04/08/2009
|
|
Gas
Construction workers hit a gas line snarling rush-hour traffic for nearly two hours. A company spokeswoman said that although the utility lines had been marked, the line was hit at about 8:30 a.m. Washington Gas and the fire department were called immediately and one lane of southbound traffic was closed while repairs were made.
Link: "ICC workers hit gas line in Olney"
Gazette.Net
UF Accident #6304
Olney, MD 04/08/2009
|
|
Gas
A natural gas line leak disrupted downtown traffic for two hours. A backhoe working on the light-rail line cut a 6-inch steel main line forcing the closures and detours. No injuries were reported.
Link: "Gas line break affects downtown Norfolk"
The Virginian-Pilot
UF Accident #6293
Norfolk, VA 04/07/2009
|
|
Comm
In yet another data cable severing mishap, contractors working on an Olympic site sent a large tunnel borer into a deep level British Telecom (BT) tunnel cutting through fiber optics and copper wire. This disrupted service to some 70,000 customers. Internet access, phone lines, private digital circuits and mobile cell sites were affected. The outage has also inadvertently created traffic problems on roadways in other parts of London due to the inability of the Transport for London to manage some of its traffic lights. The accident completely blocked the tunnel located 32 meters below the surface.
Link: "Tunnel borer mishap results in outage affecting 70,000 customers"
FierceCIO.com
UF Accident #6294
Stratford, Uk 04/07/2009
|
|
Comm
A construction mishap left many Washington County residents without access to a 911 call center. Excavation machinery doing street repair and maintenance near damaged fiber optic cables connected to a Verizon central office. Central offices serve as switching centers to route phone calls to their correct recipients. Four fiber optic cables were damaged by the construction. Emergency 911 phone service was patchy throughout the county until the problem was fixed around 6 p.m. affecting nearly 27,000 people. The damage to the fiber optic cables, which carry phone calls between different areas, meant residents could not call outside of their immediate area. The damaged lines also affected non-emergency phone calls, as many people had intermittent phone service throughout the day.
Link: "Digging cuts 9-1-1 center"
The Oregonian
UF Accident #6296
Portland, OR 04/07/2009
|
|
Gas
A road was closed all day after work crews busted a high-pressure gas line. The 12-inch line was ruptured during the morning commute by excavators working on the road. The leak was stopped by the afternoon, but major repairs were still needed. The rupture caused the evacuation of several businesses as a precaution.
Link: "Gas main rupture shuts down Valley Boulevard "
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
UF Accident #6291
Walnut, CA 04/06/2009
|
|
Comm
Traffic lights were knocked out and about 50,000 homes and businesses lost telecommunication services when a contractor hit BT cables 33 feet underground with a tunneling machine. A BT spokesman said the majority of its customers were reconnected within two days. An official said it was too early to say whether the contractor would be fined as a result of the accident.
Link: "Water firm in cable cutting error "
BBC
UF Accident #6330
London, Britian 04/04/2009
|
|
Gas
An excavator hit a gas pipe causing a gas leak. Earthmoving equipment making way for a resident's pavers dug up a gas pipeline, which filled the next door neighbor's house with gas. The neighbor was evacuated due to the toxic and explosive nature of the gas and crews wearing breathing apparatus dispersed the gas. The gas was isolated by using clamps on the pipe work, which will be fixed by contractors.
Link: "Gas leak at Lincoln Cove"
Port Lincoln Times
UF Accident #6288
Port Lincoln, South Australia 04/03/2009
|
|
Gas
Students at an elementary school were taken out of class and moved to a field away from a gas line that ruptured near the campus. An estimated 540 students at the school were taken to a field and a playground outside the school where they were upwind from the gas line, which ruptured about 11 a.m. A Heartland Fire dispatcher said a construction crew working in the area broke the line. San Diego Gas & Electric crews were sent to make the repairs. The 1-inch line provides service to residents in the area. La Mesa police and firefighters were on hand while the crews worked on the line. Twenty residents in the area were also told to evacuate as a precaution.
Link: "Ruptured gas line forces evacuation of students "
San Diego Union-Tribune
UF Accident #6289
La Mesa, CA 04/03/2009
|
|
Gas
A natural gas leak led to the evacuation of several businesses in downtown Sioux Falls. Public Works officials said construction crews working in the area hit a 4-inch natural gas main. Crews knew it was there, but it was not as deep as they anticipated. There was a detour to help people get around the area.
Link: "Gas Leak Forces Downtown Evacuation"
KELOLAND.com
UF Accident #6287
Sioux Falls, SD 04/03/2009
|
|
Gas
A contractor broke a 2-inch natural gas line today, but no one lost service during repairs. Fire and police crews were dispatched and shut down traffic just before noon.
Link: "Gas line in West Salem is broken by contractor"
Statesman Journal
UF Accident #6290
West Salem, OR 04/03/2009
|
|
Gas
Flames burst from the ground of a gas leak leaving thirteen people without gas service. A loud sound similar to a plane getting ready to land could be heard coming from the rupture. Fire officials said a tractor exiting a field he was plowing for an upcoming crop broke the gas line. Authorities said that no one was injured in the incident. It took PG&E about an hour to turn off both gas valves located.
Link: "Ruptured Gas Line in Salinas"
KCBA Fox 35
UF Accident #6286
Salinas, CA 04/03/2009
|
|
Gas
A construction crew grinding a stump accidentally ruptured a natural gas line prompting evacuations and street closures in the neighborhood. Police advised residents in the area to keep their doors and windows closed and cleared several people from a nearby church and a number of students from the church school. About 500 homes in the area were without natural gas service.
Link: "Mission Hills Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations"
10News.com
UF Accident #6283
San Diego, CA 04/02/2009
|
|
Comm
Nearly 2,000 Qwest customers lost phone and Internet service after a contractor working on a Qwest cable bored through two cables. The cut killed service to 2,800 lines serving 2,000 residential and business customers. Service to customers was restored in stages as components within the damaged cables were individually repaired.
Link: "Qwest working to restore service to 2,000 by Saturday"
Longmont Times-Calls
UF Accident #6281
Longmont, CO 04/01/2009
|
|
Gas
Waco firefighters were at the scene of a natural gas line, but no evacuations were orders as a breeze dissipated the gas so it did not accumulate. A construction crew working on a parking lot expansion reportedly cut an underground gas line and that resulted in the leak.
Link: "Crew Breaks Natural Gas Line In Waco"
KWTX 10 News
UF Accident #6278
Waco, TX 04/01/2009
|
|
Gas
PG&E stressed the “Call Before You Dig” message for contractors and homeonwers after responding to a ruptured gas line. A contractor working to fix a water leak cut through a submerged water line hitting the gas line below. The contractor reportedly failed to call 811 prior to digging, according to a PG&E spokesperson.
Link: "Chico Gas Leak Expensive Reminder for Contractor"
KHSL 12 TV
UF Accident #6276
Chico, CA 04/01/2009
|
|
Gas
An elementary school was shut down and evacuated after workers severed a gas line outside of the building. Two nearby homes were also evacuated. Two students complained of dizziness and were taken to the local hospital for observation. A teacher was also taken to the hospital after falling and injuring her leg during the evacuation. The accident occurred while workers were replacing the school's buried computer lines with new fiber-optic cable.
Link: "Hoffman Estates school evacuated after gas leak"
Chicago Daily Herald
UF Accident #6274
Hoffman Estates, IL 04/01/2009
|
|
Gas
Several families were evacuated from their homes when a work crew struck a 10-inch natural gas line. The line was broken shortly before noon and spewed gas overnight. According to a Mobile Gas Service spokesman the gas line could not be shut down while water was still in the hole. There was no explosion, and no one was hurt, but a Creola Volunteer Fire Department official said the break caused water from the hole to spew skyward.
Link: "Natural gas line break forces evacuation of homes in Creola"
Press-Register
UF Accident #6279
Creola, AL 03/31/2009
|
|
Gas
Two downtown streets were closed as repair crews fixed a natural gas leak. A construction crew broke a 2-inch gas line while digging in the street near the curb. Streets were re-opened after about two hours.
Link: "Downtown streets closed by gas leak are opened"
Tucson Citizen
UF Accident #6277
Tucson, AZ 03/31/2009
|
|
Gas
Five houses were evacuated after a landscaper breached a gas line while digging. Police barred access to the street. The street was opened and residents allowed back in their homes within the hour after a Consolidated Edison crew repaired the line.
Link: "5 homes evacuated briefly in Mamaroneck town after landscaper hits gas line"
The Journal News
UF Accident #6280
Mamaroneck Town, NY 03/26/2009
|
|
Gas
Roads were closed after a construction crew accidentally cut a 6-nch gas line during a road improvement project. Firefighters cleared the area to avoid any risk of injury.. PG&E crews were able to shut off the flow of natural gas and repair the pipe. Emergency officials kept the roads closed for nearly three hours. No evacuations of business were necessary because of the favorable wind direction. Additional fire units monitored the air near an adjacent medical facility to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Link: "Gas Leak Shuts Down Morning Commute"
CBS47.tv
UF Accident #6275
Clovis, CA 03/26/2009
|
|
Gas
Construction workers performing excavation cut a natural gas line, which shut down a major for about an hour. The workers were digging along the side of the street when they accidentally cut into a 1-inch line. Two nearby businesses were evacuated. The construction workers were performing excavation work as part of a street reconstruction project. The line cut was the second time the fire department responded to the area. At about noon, the same crew hit an old oil sump on the side of the road, which required the fire department to respond, and an environmental crew was needed to clean up the area. No injuries or illnesses were reported during either of the incidents.
Link: "Ogden road construction crew hits gas-line"
Deseret News
UF Accident #6270
Ogden, UT 03/25/2009
|
|
Water
Water flooded the street causing traffic issues for commuters after an 8-inch, city-owned water main broke. A nearby high school also was shut down. A contractor excavating to install a new line was shooting an underground missile to create a hole for the line when they hit the water main. Police shut down a portion of the parkway near the school during the repairs.
Link: "Water Main Break in"
MyFoxDC.com
UF Accident #6271
Rockville, MD 03/25/2009
|
|
Gas
A worker hit a gas line while digging to install fiber communication lines for Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). The worker was operating a machine to cut through asphalt when suddenly the asphalt lifted and gas started seeping through. Questar Gas crews soon began digging around the pipe at the south side of the University of Utah Campus. As soon as they located the ruptured section of the pipe, workers placed clamps on both sides of the 6-inch plastic pipe to stop the gas from flowing. They then cut the damaged part and replaced it with a new section of plastic pipe. The worker, part of a contractor working for UDOT, said he was cleared to begin digging at 10:30 a.m. after utility companies had marked the area, but said the gas lines must have been incorrectly marked. Questar Gas spokesperson said a state investigation will follow to determine who bears responsibility for the leak.
Link: "Gas Leak Caused By A Private Construction Company"
KUTV
UF Accident #6268
Salt Lake City, UT 03/24/2009
|
|
Gas
Several roads were closed after a construction crew working on a road-widening project in northwest Oklahoma City hit a pipeline, causing a gas leak. Oklahoma City fire officials said a hoe was digging down to install the drain system and hit a 6-inch, medium-pressure pipeline. Gas spewed from the pipeline, but no there were no evacuations.
Link: "Construction Accident Results In Gas Leak"
KOCO.com
UF Accident #6269
Oklahoma City, OK 03/24/2009
|
|
Gas
Students were evacuated from apartments next to the community college after construction workers cut a natural gas line nearby, according to Tampa Fire Rescue. TECO crews repaired the line about noon and no injuries were reported. The gas leak prompted 36 emergency responders to travel to the scene. Teachers at a day care center near the leak called some parents to pick up their children, but no mandatory evacuation was announced for the center. Construction crews punctured the 6-inch natural gas supply line with a backhoe while attempting to lay a water line. One worker said he was "just scraping some dirt" when the line was punctured. The line is three times as big as a residential gas line and runs at a higher pressure, making the area dangerous in case an object like a cigarette lighter sparked flames. Strong, rainy winds have helped to dissipate the gas, he added. Surrounding streets were blocked by officers as TECO repair crews worked at the scene.
Link: "Apartments evacuated after gas leak near HCC"
tampabay.com
UF Accident #6266
Tampa , FL 03/23/2009
|
|
Gas
A gas line ruptured by road workers caused an hour long traffic tie-up near the Texas Tech campus. A contractor accidentally bored into a 2-inch natural gas line. One adjacent business lost utility service while repairs were made. Police stopped and detoured traffic on University blocking one street.
Link: "Gas Leak Ties Up Traffic "
Fox 34 News
UF Accident #6260
Lubbock, TX 03/19/2009
|
|
Gas
Residents from 20 homes were evacuated following a natural gas pipe broke. The break occurred when crews from United Water were attempting to fix a broken water main and accidently hit a gas main that was not properly marked.Residents of 35 homes on were told to boil their water for the next three days. All residents have been notified of the boil water advisory. More than 180 addresses lost natural gas service as a result. Police were at the scene along with a crew from Orange & Rockland Utilities.
.
Link: "Gas main break in Haverstraw forces evacuation of 20 homes"
LoHud.com
UF Accident #6261
Haverstaw, NY 03/19/2009
|
|
Gas
UPDATE A sewer contractor and a pipeline operator, who worked from an inaccurate 50-year-old map and failed to confirm exactly where the line was located, caused the spectacular rupture that spewed 234,00 litres of crude oil across Burnaby homes, streets and into Burrard Inlet two years ago. The leak was made worse when operators shut off the wrong end of the pipeline — trapping oil instead of bleeding the line according to the finding of a federal Transportation Safety Board (TSB) report released recently. The crude gushed from a trench on July 24, 2007, after an excavator working on a sewer project struck the 4-kilometer pipeline that fed oil from storage tanks uphill to the docks below. Dozens of people were forced from their homes as the geyser coated buildings and trees and ran downhill through storm sewers into Burrard Inlet, causing millions in damages and cleanup costs that are still the subject of lawsuits. The TSB report found that the key cause was the failure of both the contractor, who had been hired to do a sewer upgrade for the city, and the pipeline operator to simply walk the line with equipment that would have confirmed its precise location — and then to stake it. In the Burnaby spill, the contractor did get permission from the pipeline to work near the line, which both parties assumed lay in the straight line marked on a 1957 drawing. But the location was not confirmed by the pipeline through a proper hand-search along the route with a detector, there was poor communication about when the contractor would be digging and neither side arranged supervision of the digging by the pipeline, according to the report. The TSB found that Kinder Morgan had done 25 previous physical pipeline verifications during field inspections, but had not updated its drawings and did not use the fresher information during reviews of the sewer project. Although supervised hand-digging was required in such close proximity to the pressurized pipeline, an unsupervised excavator was used. Evidence later showed the operator struck the line five times before rupturing it. Crude oil sprayed 15 to 20 meters in the air for 25 minutes after the strike. Because the tanks were at a higher elevation, oil continued to flow after pumps were shut off.
Link: "Report on 2007 Burnaby oil spill released"
The Province
UF Accident #6258
Burnaby, BC 03/18/2009
|
|
Gas
Police and firefighters evacuated part of downtown, including the county courthouse, after a worker sliced through a natural gas line while trying to find it. Most businesses reopened after the incident, but the Washington County Courthouse shut down for the day. The incident did not disrupt court schedules because there was no criminal court this week and sessions court was finished for the day. It did, however, affect other county offices located in the courthouse. The break happened around 2:20 p.m. where town workers were installing a bridge. Workers were digging with a shovel trying to dig around the line when they hit it. The shovel put a small gash in the gas line which sent natural gas spewing into the air.
Officials also contacted CSX Railroad to stop any train activity that was scheduled to pass through Jonesborough to prevent any potential problems. No one was allowed to start their cars in the immediate area until workers stopped the gas flow.
Link: "Gas leak forces evacuation of Jonesborough businesses, courthouse"
timesnews.net
UF Accident #6259
Jonesborough, TN 03/18/2009
|
|
Gas
About 60 l homes were evacuated after a natural gas line broke, sending a sulfuric odor wafting through the neighborhood. Los Angeles County firefighters responded to the leak. A passerby noticed the smell and called the Fire Department. The pipe, about five inches in diameter, was on private property. The line was apparently punctured by someone plowing a field, said a gas company spokeswoman. Homes were evacuated within a quarter-square-mile area around the leaking pipe. Sheriff’s deputies also went door to door to notify residents of the leak and warn them they may have to leave if the wind shifted. The road around the area of the leak was also closed to traffic.
Link: "Gas leak evacuation"
The Signal
UF Accident #6252
Santa Clarita, CA 03/17/2009
|
|
Gas
A portion of a street was closed for most of the day because of a natural gas leak. Businesses on the south side of the street were also evacuated for about three hours. A crew putting electrical lines underground for new street lights hit a gas line shortly before 10 a.m. The leak had been stopped and people were allowed to return to buildings by about 1 p.m. Repair work was completed and the road was reopened about 3:45 p.m.
Link: "Mishawaka Avenue gas leak repaired, road reopened"
WSBT 2 News
UF Accident #6253
South Bend, IN 03/17/2009
|
|
Gas
Fire officials closed a portion of a highway for about eight hours following a ruptured gas line. Contractors struck a high pressure gas line causing a steady stream of natural gas to shoot about 30 feet into the air. More than two dozen firefighters were on the scene in case the highly flammable gas caught fire. BG&E employees worked to dig down to the pipe and shut off the gas supply so that the broken portion of the pipe could be repaired. About 10 people were evacuated from the construction site and several businesses were closed. Residents of a condominium for senior citizens were instructed to stay in their homes.
Link: "Stretch of Veterans Highway reopens after gas main repairs in Millersville"
baltimoresun.com
UF Accident #6254
Millersville, MD 03/17/2009
|
|
Gas
Winston-Salem work crews struck a gas line with a backhoe causing it to rupture.No homes were evacuated since none were occupied, but residents were kept away while crews repaired the leak. No injuries were reported.
Link: "Crews Repair Winston-Salem Gas Line Rupture"
wxii.com
UF Accident #6255
Winston-Salem, NC 03/17/2009
|
|
Gas
Nearby businesses and two homes were evacuated by firefighters following a gas leak. Contractors working in the area apparently ruptured a gas main while digging. Officials closed the streets near the accident.
Link: "Crews stop gas leak in Sterling Heights"
The Detroit News
UF Accident #6249
Sterling Heights, MI 03/12/2009
|
|
Water
Traffic was closed in the area after Muscatine Power and Water workers damaged a water main. Hydrant workers struck an abandoned 2-inch water line attached to the 14-inch main. At one point, the main leaked a significant volume that covered the roadway. No homes were without water, but some residents were notified of a temporary outage during repairs.
Link: "Repairs to broken water main could begin tonight"
The Muscatine Journal
UF Accident #6250
Muscatine, IA 03/12/2009
|
|
Comm
Nearly 1,500 Telus customers were without service for two days after a phone line was accidentally severed by a construction crew. The crew was drilling test holes in the area as preliminary work for some upcoming paving when they drilled through a cable with 3,000 wires. Each wire represents a Telus customer. Half the wires were cut. Those affected lost their phone service, 911 service, Interac, credit card machines and voice mail.
Link: "Chopped lines cause havoc"
Vernon Morning Star
UF Accident #6251
Vernon, BC 03/12/2009
|
|
Gas
About 20 homes were evacuated because of a sizable gas leak. Callers reported the smell of natural gas in the air. A municipal work crew had punctured a gas line with a backhoe. Gas crews dug up part of the road to close the leak and conducted air-quality tests around the homes. More than an hour later, when the air was deemed safe, people were allowed back in their homes.
Link: "Gas leak in Esquimalt prompts evacuation"
Times Colonist
UF Accident #6245
Esquimalt, BC 03/11/2009
|
|
Gas
Construction work near a hospital caused a high-pressure gas leak that forced authorities to cordon off the area and prepare for a possible evacuation. No evacuations were necessary as gas workers quickly clamped off the broken line, diminishing the dangerous nature of the situation. A backhoe involved in a construction project near the emergency room entrance hit a 2-inch gas main feed for the hospital, completely ruptured it, causing a high-pressure release from that line. Fire officials prepared hospital officials for an evacuation and shut down the hospital’s ventilation system to prevent any gas from entering the facility.
Link: "Gas line breaks near hospital"
The Daily Sound
UF Accident #6247
Santa Barbara, CA 03/11/2009
|
|
Water
Contractors doing preliminary drilling for a new sewer line hit a water main shortly after the water company sent out an alert to customers that the project could cause disruptions to their service. The main was hit as workers were assessing part of the six-week project. The damage appeared to be limited with about five customers losing their water service.
Link: "Water main ruptured in Trumbull"
ConnPost.com
UF Accident #6248
Trumbull, CT 03/11/2009
|
|
Gas
A local road was closed because of a natural gas leak. Workers were drilling a hole to install a utility pole when they apparently hit the gas line, sending a large plume of gas into the air.
Link: "Roads closed in Hampden Twp. due to gas leak"
pennlive.com
UF Accident #6243
Hampden Township, Pennsylvania 03/10/2009
|
|
Gas
Most of the downtown was shut down after a gas leak. A fencing company official said his company was supposed to call the one-call center for a locate request prior to digging fence post behind a local shop. Instead, a company employee called 30 minutes after one of their augers ruptured the gas line. The company spokesman said there should have been checks and balances in place, but there were not. The fencing company was completing the last steps of a renovation at the shop that began last year. To get it done quickly, the auger crew began drilling even though the ground had not been marked. Gas line owner Atmos Energy spent nearly three hours patching the leak. About 10 downtown businesses were evacuated and streets were closed and traffic re-routed. In Tennessee, failure to call before digging is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 48 hours in jail, a $2,500 fine or both. Atmos Energy would estimate the cost for the amount of gas lost and for the repairs.
Link: "Fencing Company Admits Failure to Call Before Digging"
TriCities.com
UF Accident #6244
Bristol, TN 03/10/2009
|
|
Gas
A gas leak caused evacuations of nearby homes and the closure of local streets. A man digging a hole at his home struck a gas line causing gas to spill. Eight nearby homes were evacuated. Alliant Energy officials repaired the gas line. No one was injured.
Link: "Gas Leak Reported in Janesville"
Janesville Gazette
UF Accident #6240
Janesville, OR 03/09/2009
|
|
Gas
The YMCA was closed yesterday after a contractor working on the septic system ripped a natural gas line leading into the building. West Barnstable firefighters responded to the building and called National Grid, which sent technicians to the scene to repair the leak.
Link: "YMCA shut down after contractor rips gas line"
Cape Cod Times
UF Accident #6241
West Barnstable, MA 03/08/2009
|
|
Gas
More than 100 residents were evacuated from their homes after fire crews capped a ruptured gas line that had begun burning. No one was hurt during the leak, which was sparked by an electrical wire. Electrical workers, possibly days ago, punctured a buried gas line as they added an electrical pole. The leak went undetected until they returned to install electrical wires. At this point, a power line fell and ignited the gas.
Link: "Deerfield Beach residents safe at home after gas leak"
Sun-Sentinel.com
UF Accident #6242
Deerfield Beach, FL 03/08/2009
|
|
Gas
Efforts to solve clogged sewer lines at an apartment complex ended when a 2-inch high-pressure gas line was cut. Florence firefighters were on hand for about three hours while SCE&G crews worked to clamp the line so it could be safely repaired. Residents were evacuated from their apartments. Residents of a health care center, adjacent to the leak, were moved to a section of their building away from danger. Officials said the area was marked for buried utilities when a worker struck the line with a backhoe. Officials said the line that was cut was apparently too old to have a tracer attached to it and the marks were made based on a map which may have been a little off.
Link: "Florence high-pressure gas line cut, apartment evacuated"
SCNow.com
UF Accident #6238
Florence, SC 03/07/2009
|
|
Gas
Tucson Electric Power workers got a little too close to a gas line causing it to break. A 2- inch break occurred when electric company workers were digging a hole for a utility pole in an alley. The electric company called Southwest Gas and the Tucson Fire Department for assistance after realizing what happened. Eight people from four nearby businesses and seven people from 10 homes were evacuated for about an hour. No one was injured. Residents from the homes were without gas for several hours.
Link: "Gas leak causes scare"
Fox 11 News
UF Accident #6239
Tucson, AZ 03/06/2009
|
|
Gas
A juvenile detention center was evacuated after an apparent gas leak. A contractor putting in a new gas line accidentally punctured the old line, sending natural gas into the air. Crews from Columbia Gas were able to cap the line.
Link: "Detention Center Evacuated After Gas Leak"
KDKA
UF Accident #6236
Beaver, PA 03/05/2009
|
