NTSB Safety Recommendation Letter P-76-056 through P-76-057

Page 1Official PDFFOR RELEASE: 6:3O P,M,, E,D,T,, SEPTEVBER 15, 1976 ( 2 0 2 ) 426-0787 I S S U E D : September 15, 1976 Forwarded to: ibnorable Arthul- Peters .- imyor F r e m t , Nebraska 68026 \ S A F E T Y RECOMMENDAT I O N ( S ) P-76-56 t h r o w P-76-57 A t 9:32 a.m. on Januay 10, 1976, gas which was leaking into die Pathfinder Hotel. in Frflnont, Nebraska, ignited. The gas was 2dking from a 2-inch plastic pipe which had piilled out of its can- jjressiai coiipling; the gas seeped into the hotel because it had iizen capped above by frozen earth and a concrete road surface. The iht:el exploded and fire ensiled; the explosion and fire destroyed 4 4 k .iC ~ hotel, h u g e d nearby buildings, and broke windows Within a irne-,block radius. Thirty-nine persons 'were injured and 20 persons w:xe killed. - I./ During its investigation of that accident, the National Trans- ?ortation Safety Board discovered certain cmmniications problems ? ?.i-ivolvbg city personnel. Therefore, the National Transportation Safety Board recomends that the City of Frfmmt: Reanpllasize t o c i t y personnel who are assigned t o the emergency desk the importance of helping people who call, in t o report gas leaks, and require the personnel t o furnish emergency gas ccmpany numbers t o the public. (I?-76-56) (Class 11, Priority Fo1,lmp) - i/ For mre detailed infoimtion on this accident, read 'Tipelhie Accident Report Nebraska Natural Gas Ccmpany, Pathfinder Hotel Explosion and Fi.re, Frermt ~ Nebraska, J m w y 10, 1976. " N E B - PAR-76-6. 174l.A#

Page 2Coordinate emergency activities w i t h the gas ccm pany and determine what responses should be ma to various types of gas emergencies. Cp-76-57 (Class 11, priority - '., \ concurred i n the above r e c m By:#