Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation Natural Gas–Fueled Home Explosion and Fires

What HappenedThis information is preliminary and subject to change. On April 9, 2025, about 7:42 p.m. local time, a natural gas–fueled explosion and fires in Lexington, Missouri, destroyed one single-family residence (1717 Franklin Avenue) and damaged two others, resulting in one fatality and two injuries. [1] The explosion occurred more than 3 hours after Alfra Construction, LLC, a drilling subcontractor installing a fiber optic line for Sellenriek Construction, drilled into an unmarked section of a capped underground gas distribution main located near the residences. The gas main was operated by Liberty Utilities, a subsidiary of Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation, which provides gas service to the area. (See figure.) Weather conditions at the time of the accident were clear with winds of 12 mph; the temperature was 72°F with no precipitation. Five days before the accident, on April 4, Alfra Construction called Missouri 811 to have any buried utilities in the area marked. [2] Liberty Utilities sent a locator to mark its assets by painting and flagging and reported that this work was finished on April 7. [3] The location of the capped gas main section involved in the accident was not identified or marked during this process. Shortly after 4:00 p.m. on the day of the accident, the Alfra Construction work crew member operating the drill felt the drill strike an object. The work crew saw and smelled odorized natural gas being released. The work crew’s supervisor called 911 and 811 and reported a damaged gas line. Units from the Lexington Fire Department arrived about 4:20 p.m.; personnel from Liberty Utilities began arriving about 4:39 p.m. Liberty Utilities personnel attempted to isolate the leak by squeezing off the main but did not succeed in stopping the flow of gas. [4] At the direction of Liberty Utilities, a business about 15 feet from the leak was evacuated before the explosion. Other nearby buildings were not evacuated, including the destroyed and damaged residences, which ranged from 80 to 160 feet from the leak. The damaged main was isolated about 8:10 p.m., after the explosion. The gas main involved in this accident was a 4-inch polyethylene (plastic) pipe operating at 30 pounds per square inch gauge pressure; its maximum allowable operating pressure was 35 pounds per square inch gauge. While on scene, the National Transportation Safety Board conducted interviews, observed the excavation of the area near the leak, visually examined and measured the damaged pipe, observed bar hole and pressure testing, and collected policy and procedure documents from the companies involved.[5] The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation is ongoing. Future investigative activity will focus on Liberty Utilities’ responses to 811 requests, leak and repair history, emergency response and isolation procedures, record keeping, pipeline safety management system, operator qualifications, and public awareness program; state safety oversight; and local emergency response and evacuation procedures.Parties to the investigation include: the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Missouri Public Service Commission, Missouri Division of Fire Safety, City of Lexington, City of Lexington Fire Department, City of Lexington Police Department, Liberty Utilities, and Sellenriek Construction.[6] [1] All times in this report are local.[2] Under Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 192.614, pipeline operators must participate in qualified one-call systems to provide locate-and-mark services to excavators who notify them of plans to excavate near their utilities. Excavators call 811 and place a ticket, which is used to track the locate-and-mark activities of the various owners of the buried utilities. Missouri 811, also called the Missouri One Call System, is one of these qualified one-call systems. [3] A locator identifies and marks the location of underground utilities like pipes and cables to support safe excavation. The locator in this case was employed by Liberty Utilities. [4] Squeezing off is a method of isolating part of a gas system by compressing pipes at one or more locations to block the flow of gas. [5] Bar hole testing is a gas measurement technique in which a small-diameter hole is made in the ground (a bar hole), a gas measurement probe is inserted into the hole, and a gas concentration measurement in the ground is obtained. [6] Liberty Utilities signed the party agreement as Empire District Gas Company, a subsidiary of Liberty Utilities.#