NTSB Safety Recommendation P-07-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-07-006.

The National Transportation Safety Board makes the following safety recommendation to the International Association of Fire Chiefs: Notify your members of the circumstances surrounding the December 13, 2005, accident in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and urge them to establish and implement procedures for emergency responders to rapidly assess situations involving natural gas leaks and to determine whether prompt evacuations are warranted.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 2007-06-07

Adopted Date: 2007-05-01

Overall Date Closed: 2009-07-17

Synopsis: On December 13, 2005, at 9:26 a.m., an apartment building exploded in Bergenfield, New Jersey, after natural gas migrated into the building from a damaged pipeline. Safety Board investigators found a break in a 1 1/4-inch steel natural gas distribution service line that was operating at 11 1/2 pounds per square inch, gauge. The break occurred at an underground threaded tee connection downstream from where excavators were removing an oil tank that was buried under the asphalt parking lot adjacent to the building. The break occurred, under the parking lot, about 7 feet 4 inches from the building’s wall. Three residents of the apartment building were killed. Four residents and a tank removal worker were injured and transported to hospitals

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the December 13, 2005, natural gas explosion and fire in Bergenfield, New Jersey, was the failure of the American Tank Service Company to adequately protect the natural gas service line from shifting soil during excavation, which resulted in damage to the service line and the release and migration of natural gas into the apartment building. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the Public Service Electric and Gas Company to conduct effective oversight of the excavation activities adjacent to the gas service line and to be prepared to promptly shut off the flow of natural gas after the service line was damaged. Contributing to the casualties in the accident was the failure of the Bergenfield Fire Department to evacuate the apartment building despite the strong evidence of a natural gas leak and the potential for gas to migrate into the building.

Ntsbnumber: DCA06MP001

Report Number: PAB-07-01

Addressee Name: International Association of Fire Chiefs

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2009-07-17

Addressee Acronym: IAFC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2009-06-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 6/16/2009 12:50:39 PM MC# 2090365: After several attempts by telephone and email, I got in contact with Mr. Stokes and Ms Davidson, staff at IAFC. They promised an article in their e-news letter OnScene. As promised, on 4-15-09, IAFC published a comprehensive article, responsive to the recommendation.

Addressee Acronym: IAFC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2009-07-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The NTSB has reviewed the IAFC’s April 2009 e-newsletter and article, Fire Chiefs Urged to Establish and Implement Procedures to Assess Natural Gas Leaks, and finds it responsive to our request. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-07-6 is classified Closed Acceptable Action.