NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-017

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-017.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PHOENIX FIRE DEPARTMENT: REVIEW WITH THE SOUTHWEST GAS COMPANY OR THE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER THE CORRECT USE OF COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATORS AND THE PROPER PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINING THE EXTENT OF GAS MIGRATION AND DEGREE OF HAZARD, AND RETRAIN MEMBERS OF ITS HAZARDOUS INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-07-01

Adopted Date: 1985-06-12

Overall Date Closed: 1990-01-09

Synopsis: AT 3:30 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1984, AN EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY AN INTENSE NATURAL GASFED FIRE DESTROYED TWO APARTMENTS AT 3022 NORTH 37TH STREET IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. OF THE 12 PERSONS INJURED IN THE FIRE, 5 PERSONS LATER DIED. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, THE 1 1/4-INCH-DIAMETER PLASTIC GAS MAIN SUPPLYING GAS TO THE DESTROYED APARTMENTS WAS EXCAVATED AND A 3-INCH-LONG LONGITUDINAL SPLIT WAS DISCOVERED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PIPE 18 FEET FORM THE GAS METERS ON THE APARTMENT BUILDING. GAS AT 30 PSIG HAD ESCAPED THROUGH THE LONGITUDINAL SPLIT, MIGRATED INTO AND UNDER THE APARTMENTS, IGNITED, EXPLODED, AND BURNED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA84AP026

Report Number: PAR-85-01

Addressee Name: State of Arizona, City of Phoenix, Fire Department

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1990-01-09

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1990-01-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RECOMMENDATION P-85-017 CLOSED--UNACCEPTABLE ACTION 5/8/89 REOPENED 1/9/90 SEE LETTER.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1989-09-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: I HAVE ENCLOSED ENCLOSED COPIES OF OUR OPERATING PROCEDURES RELATING TO NATURAL GAS INCIDENTS. HOPEFULLY YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE PROCEDURE. IF I NEED TO TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION PLEASE CONTACT ME AT (602) 256-3178, I'LL BE HAPPY TO HELP.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1988-10-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1989-05-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence