Contra Costa County California
GAS SHUT-OFF VALVE REQUIREMENTS
Contra Costa County Ordinance Code chapter 718-8 requires gas shut-off valves be installed downstream of the meter and at the point of appliance on designated buildings within the County. Gas shut-off valves are designed to automatically shut off the power supply of natural gas to a building to prevent a fire or explosion due to accumulation of gas in the building in the event of a major earthquake.
The provisions of this Ordinance apply to:
Provisions of the ordinance allow for the installation of the valves to an individual unit or tenant space in a condominium or commercial building when that unit is served by separate gas meters for buildings that are altered, added to or sold.
A plumbing permit from the Building Inspection Department is required for the installation. The cost of a plumbing permit is $62.25.
To request a permit application or schedule an inspection of installed valves, call (925) 646- 4108.
APPROVED GAS SHUT-OFF VALVES
For a list of the approved Gas shut-off valves, please see the California Division of the State Architect website at: http://www.dsa.dgs.ca.gov/gas_shutoff.htm
The Division of the State Architect (DSA) is certifying two different types of gas shut-off valves for residential use: 1) earthquake sensitive gas shut-off valves (ESV) and 2) excess flow automatic gas shut-off valves (EFV). DSA derives its authority to certify these valves from the Health and Safety Code.
For questions regarding the state certification program for gas shut-off valves, contact Paul Vetter, (916)324-1280, paul.vetter@dgs.ca.gov.
ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Where can the valves be purchased?
A. From supply retailers, plumbing contractors, or the valve manufacturers listed on the
California Division of the State Architect website.
Q. What if I buy a condominimium in a building with multiple units?
A. The ordinance requires that all gas piping serving that unit be protected by a gas shut-off
valve and gas shut-off valves at the point of appliance be installed prior to close of escrow
when an escrow agreement has been executed in connection with the sale after January 2,
2007.
Q. What do I do if my building does not have a fuel gas piping system?
A. This ordinance only applies to buildings with fuel gas piping systems.
Q. My property went into escrow because of a refinance but there no change in ownership. Are
gas shut-off valves still required?
A. No, they are not required, but you might like to have them installed for added protection in
the event of an earthquake.
Q. Do I need an excess flow valve on my pool heater or spa?
A. No, they are only required on appliances in the interior of the structure or a water heater in
the garage.
Q. How do I install an excess flow valve on a gas fireplace?
A. Fireplaces do not need to have a valve installed.
State of Texas
Frisco Texas
Effective July 2003 this city passed an ordinance requiring Excess Flow Valves (EFV’S) to be placed on the upstream side of the utility meter. This ordinance affects new and remodeling construction permits.
State of California
On September 28, 2002, Governor Gray Davis of California signed Senate Bill 1992 authored by Senator Don Perata (D-Oakland) and Assemblywoman Dion Aroner (co-author) requiring the Department of housing and Community Development to propose a building code requirement that gas shut-off valves be installed on all residential dwellings.
“This measure is a simple effective way to save lives, protect firefighters and public safety officers who must respond to gas fires and explosions,” said Perata.
“SB 1992 is a cost effective way to save lives and property by creating a process that will protect new housing units in California with a simple device that shuts off the flow of gas to a structure in the event of a gas leak, gas line break, or interruption of flow” said Aroner.
The California Professional Firefighters, the California State Firefighters Association, the Peace Officers Research Association of California, The Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations , Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, The California Nurses Association, and over 200 local firefighter, law enforcement, labor, and community organizations throughout California supported Senator Perata and Assemblywoman Aroner’s legislation.
State of California - Senate Bill 1992:
CHAPTER 1051
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 28, 2002
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 28, 2002
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 21, 2002
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 19, 2002
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 26, 2002
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 11, 2002
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 13, 2002
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 1, 2002
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 8, 2002
INTRODUCED BY: Senator Perata (Coauthor: Assembly Member Aroner)
FEBRUARY 22, 2002
An act to amend Section 19201 of, and to add Section 19205 to, the Health and Safety Code, relating to public safety.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1992, Perata. Public safety: gas appliances.
Existing law relating to state building standards and seismic safety requires the installation of earthquake sensitive or excess flow gas shutoff devices in specified buildings, and generally regulates the manufacture and sale of these devices. Existing law requires the State Architect to certify specified gas shutoff devices that are activated by motion or phenomena other than motion, as specified.
This bill would require the Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with the Office of the State Architect and the State Fire Marshal to consider whether to propose for adoption and approval by the Building Standards Commission, in the code adoption cycle that begins after January 1, 2003, the requirement that seismic gas shutoff devices or excess flow gas shutoff devices, installed on customer-owned gas piping, be installed in all or a portion of dwelling units, motels, hotels, and lodging houses.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 19201 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
19201. As used in this article:
(a) "Seismic gas shutoff device" means a seismic gas shutoff device installed on customer-owned gas piping certified by the State Architect pursuant to Section 19202. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, "seismic gas shutoff device" does not include any device installed on a gas distribution system owned or operated by a public utility.
(b) "Excess flow gas shutoff device" means a gas shutoff device installed on customer-owned gas piping described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 19202 that has been certified by the State Architect pursuant to that section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, "excess flow gas shutoff device" shall not include any device installed on a gas distribution system owned or operated by a public utility.
(c) "Customer-owned gas piping" means all parts of the gas piping system downstream of the gas utility point of delivery, including, but not limited to, downstream of the gas utility meter and service tee (also known as a bypass tee).
SECTION 2. Section 19205 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read: 19205.
In the next annual code adoption cycle that begins after January 1, 2003, the Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with the Office of the State Architect and the State Fire Marshal, shall consider whether or not to propose for adoption and approval by the Building Standards Commission the requirement that seismic gas shutoff devices or excess flow gas shutoff devices be installed in all or a portion of dwelling units, hotels, motels, and lodging houses. If the department makes such a proposal to the commission, the approve or to not adopt and approve the proposal. If the department decides to not make such a proposal, the department shall explain in writing the reasons for its decision. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section that the department include in any proposal to the commission an analysis of the cost and safety benefits of the proposal.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Governor Signs Bill to Protect Californians against Gas Fires and Explosions
September 30, 2002 - (Sacramento) - Governor Gray Davis yesterday signed SB 1992 coauthored by Senator Don Perata and Assemblywoman Dion Aroner. The bill will help prevent residential gas fires and explosions.
“This measure is a simple and effective way to save lives and protect firefighters and public safety officers who must respond to gas fires and explosions,” said Perata.
Recently, there have been a number of high-profile natural gas explosions in California, including an explosion in Torrance that injured 10 people, and an explosion in Encino that leveled an entire apartment complex, killing one man and displacing over 350 residents.
According to a recent study prepared for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, during a typical year natural gas accounts for nearly 7,000 home fires, 50 deaths, 400 injuries, 400 homes destroyed by gas explosions and $50 million in direct property damage. This is during a typical period and does not take into account the severe damage California could suffer in a major earthquake or other major disaster.
“SB 1992 is a cost-effective way to save lives and property by creating a process that will protect new housing units in California with a simple device that shuts off the flow of gas to a structure in the event of a gas leak, gas line break or interruption of flow,” said Aroner.
The California Professional Firefighters, the California State Firefighters Association, the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, The California Nurses Association, and over 200 local firefighter, law enforcement, labor, and community organizations throughout California supported Senator Perata and Assemblywoman Aroner’s legislation and encouraged Governor Davis to sign SB 1992 into law.
Coalition in Support of SB 1992
SB 1992 has received endorsements from the following Labor, Law Enforcement, Professional organizations and Individuals:
California Professional Firefighters
Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC)
California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations
AFSME (Statewide)
American Lung Association of California
Congress of California Seniors
California Gray Panthers
California Conference of Machinist
California State Firefighter’s Association, Inc.
California Department of Forestry Firefighters
State Council of Hotel and Restaurant Employees
California Nurses Association
Teamsters California Public Affairs Council
Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO
I.A.T.S.E. International
Los Angeles Labor Council, AFL-CIO
San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Orange County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
National Federation of Independent Unions
Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, ALADS
Los Angeles Police Protective League
Riverside Sheriffs’ Association
Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
San Francisco Police Officers’ Association
San Jose Police Officers’ Association
Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of San Francisco
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local 112
Los Angeles County Fire Fighters Local 1014
United Professional Fire Fighters of Contra Costa County, Local 1230
San Francisco Firefighters, Local 790
Contra Costa County Building & Construction Trades Council
Napa-Solano Counties Building & Construction Trades Council
Santa Clara & San Benito Counties Building & Construction Trades Council
Santa Barbara - San Luis Obispo County Building Trades Council
San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council
Southern California Pipe Trades, District Council 16
Sheriff Leroy Baca, Los Angeles County
Sheriff Charles C. Plummer, Alameda County
Sheriff Warren E. Rupf, Contra Costa County
Sheriff Laurie Smith, Santa Clara County
Sheriff Robert A. Shadley, Jr., Glenn County
Sheriff Edward N. Bonner, Placer County
Sheriff Ken Marvin, Kings County
Sheriff Robert T. Doyle, Marin County
Sheriff Michael Hennessey, San Francisco County
Sheriff Bill Wittman, Tulare County
Sheriff Charles Byrd, Siskiyou County
Sheriff Virginia R. Black, Yuba County
Sheriff E.G. Prieto, Yolo County
Marine Firemen’s Union
Nevada County Professional Firefighters, Local 3800
San Mateo County Fire Fighters, Local 2400
Kern County Fire Fighters Union Inc. #1301
Upland Firefighter’s Association, Local 3477
Alameda County Fire Department Chief William J. McCammon
Aptos La Selva Fire Chief Gary Smith
Susanville Fire Department Chief Steve Rose
BART Police Officers Association
Long Beach Community College Police Department
Hermosa Beach Police Officer’s Association
CSUS Police Department Director Ken Barnett
ATU, Local 1555
Amalgamated Transit Workers, Local 1574
Amalgamated Transit Workers, Local 192
American Federation of Teachers, Local 2121
Bakers, Local 119
BCTCM, Local 125
CWA, Local 9415
Carpenters, Local 22
Cement Masons, Local 500
General & Construction Union, Local 304
HERE, Local 681
IATSE, Local 695
IATSE, Local 705
IATSE, Local 706
IATSE, Local 728
IATSE, Local 767
IATSE, Local 816
IATSE, Studio Grips
Motion Picture Studio Grips, Local 80
ILWU, Warehouse Union Local 6
Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific, ILWU
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 11
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 45
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 441
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 551
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 6
Ironworkers Union, Local 155
Ironworkers Union, Local 433
Berkeley Gray Panthers
Laborers Asbestos and Toxic Abatement, Local 882
Laborers, Local 886
LIUNA, Local 294
Machinist Union IAM
Marine Engineer’s Beneficial Association (AFL-CIO)
Musicians Union, Local 6
National Association of Letter Carriers
OPEIU, Local 3
OPEIU, Local 29
Pile Drivers, Local 34
Plasterers & Shophands, Local 66
Plumbers and Steamfitters UA Local 16
Plumbers and Steamfitters UA Local 342
Sprinkler Fitters UA Local 483 J.A.C.
Sailors’ Union of the Pacific
San Francisco Bar Pilots
Service Employees International Union, Local 280
Service Employees International Union, Local 715
Service Employees International Union, Local 2028
Sheet Metal Workers, Local 104
Teamsters, Local 350
Teamsters Automotive, Industrial and Allied Workers, Local 495
Teamsters, Local 484
Teamsters, Local 856
Typographical Sector, No CA Media Workers
Union of American Physicians and Dentist
UNITE! Western States Regional Joint Board
United Administrators of San Francisco, AFSA 3
United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1442
United Steelworkers of America, Local 1304
Utility Workers Union, Local 132
National Guild for Acupuncture and Oriental and Oriental Medicine
California Association of Psychiatric Technicians
Lake County Air Quality Management District
Mariposa County Building Department Director John E. Davis
JDC Security Systems Inc., CEO Gary Canfield
Resources for Independent Living, Inc
Hossein Monfared, California State Fire Marshal Pipe Line Safety Engineer
Bay Alarms, Inc., Todd Lindstrom, Representative
International Association of Fire Chiefs Director Donald F. Warden
C.R. Fireline Inc., CEO Clarence J. Robichaud
Safeguard Inc., Director Ronald Kent
Emilio Cruz, San Francisco Board of Education
Janesville Fire Department Chief Inspector Larry Hainstock
Del Norte County District Attorney Robert Drossel
Stanislaus County District Attorney Jim Brazelton
Tehama County District Attorney Gregg
Alan Crogan, Chief Probation Officer, San Diego County Probation Dept.
Marin County District Attorney Paula Freschi Kamena
Covan Alarm Company CEO David Coon
LA City Fire Department Inspector Lloyd K. Fukuda
Pacific Auxiliary Fire Alarm Company
Diversified Fire Products, Inc.
Contra Costa District Attorney Investigator Association
RECENT ARTICLES ABOUT GAS EXPLOSIONS:
Note: The following articles from around the world highlight a small fraction of the tragic consequences of gas-related explosions.
Investigators say it was a natural gas explosion that leveled
a two-story apartment complex Sunday
November 17, 1998 - Web posted at: 1:52 a.m. EST (0652 GMT)
ALHAMBRA, California (CNN) -- Investigators say it was a natural gas explosion that leveled a two-story apartment complex Sunday.
Five people were injured in the blast that sent debris flying several blocks away in a residential community east of downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, injuring five people, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Authorities told CNN Monday that natural gas was the cause of the explosion. "They found no explosives or flamables inside the point of origin and have confirmed that natural gas was the cause," according to Sgt. Vincent Callier, sheriff's department spokesman.
The explosion happened about 8 p.m. EST Sunday.
A large fire forced the evacuation of nearby residents.
Two apartment building residents were hospitalized. Two people
who were riding on nearby streets suffered minor injuries. A fifth person suffered
an ankle injury.
ARIZONA; Disconnected Gas Hose Blamed for Fatal Blast
The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: Mar 27, 2003. pg. A.19
Copyright The Times Mirror Company; Los Angeles Times 2003. All rights reserved.
A natural gas hose disconnected from the back of a stove was responsible for two explosions that destroyed a two-story Phoenix apartment building on March 19, killing one person and injuring nine, authorities said.
The stove was inside the apartment of Dale Barry, the apartment complex handyman.
He is still listed as missing, authorities said. Barry was evicted five days before the explosion but was seen there shortly before the blasts.
Natural Gas Explosion Rocks Galveston
Wed Oct 22, 6:42 PM ET
A natural gas explosion sent flames and black smoke shooting into the air on Galveston Island Wednesday afternoon, News2Houston reported.
The fire broke out on 55th Street at Harborside around noon, according to officials.
The blast damaged some power lines, knocking out electricity for approximately 3,000 homes and businesses in Galveston and surrounding areas.
A nearby piece of construction equipment also caught fire.
Galveston reported light winds in the area, so the fire was not in danger of spreading, according to authorities.
"Wind has not been an issue -- it's five to 10 mph," News2Houston meteorologist Wes Hohenstein said.
Traffic was rerouted until the scene was cleared. By 12:30 p.m., the flames were out.
Massachusetts Firefighter Dies on the Job
Sun Nov 30,10:32 AM ET
LANCASTER, Mass. - A firefighter apparently trapped in the basement of a burning wood-frame building died in the flames early Saturday. Three other firefighters were injured, one seriously. At least two explosions forced firefighters to evacuate around 5 a.m., but Martin McNamara, 31, did not make it out.
Firefighters went back for McNamara, but found only his helmet. His body was recovered later.
State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said the cause of the fire was unclear, but that the second explosion may have been caused by a natural gas leak.
McNamara, the father of two children, had been on the force in Lancaster, about 35 miles west of Boston, for three years.
"Marty was the kind of son that every father and mother would ever want," said his father, also named Martin. "I guess the only consolation we can take from it is that he died doing something that he loved to do." The younger McNamara is also survived by his wife, who is pregnant.
Local - WCVB TheBostonChannel.com
Parents React To House Explosion Report
Thu Nov 13, 5:40 PM ET
The parents who lost their two pre-school daughters in a horrific house explosion last year in Hopkinton are speaking out in the wake of a report that is critical of the NSTAR utility company. NewsCenter 5's Rhondella Richardson reported that the parents of Iris and Violet Carey, at their attorney's offices Thursday, pointed out that a new report shows the corroded pipes and rusted parts inside the basement of the house they lived in were owned by NSTAR and so they will continue pursuing a lawsuit against the gas company.
"I don't think we'll ever accept the fact that Violet and Iris died, but I think we need to bring them some peace," said Tara Carey.
She and her husband, Heath, said it's been a long 16 months waiting for the state to determine what happened the morning of July 24, 2002, when the roof of their house blew off and three floors crumbled to the street. Their daughters Iris, 4, and Violet, 5, died in the natural gas explosion.
"One of the largest reasons why we're fighting this case is to make sure it doesn't happen again," said Heath Carey.
Their attorneys cite the report from the state's Department of Telecommunications and Energy which said the state has reasons to believe violations of state and federal pipeline safety regulations may have occurred.
"They didn't conduct appropriate leak surveys, they didn't determine the maximum allowable operating pressure at the pipeline, they didn't do corrosion surveys and in a couple of circumstances they didn't follow their own plan for what's required for inspection services," said attorney Edward Swartz.
The report, which is critical of NSTAR, doesn't blame the utility for causing the explosion, but the Carey family does.
"We knew it was a gas explosion. Everyone could smell the gas at night. That's what it was, and for them to just keep denying, not admitting that it was is ... it's just been awful," said Tara Carey.
"They just want to deny and they don't want to repair and they don't want to warn," said Swartz.
NSTAR has denied any wrongdoing. It's facing a $200,000 fine and may respond in several ways, said a company spokesman, including paying the fine, seeking a lower fine or asking for a hearing. The spokesman said the company would seek a hearing.
One Hurt in Detroit Diner Explosion
Fri Nov 28, 9:31 AM ET
DETROIT - A diner on the city's west side was leveled by an explosion that left one person critically injured, officials said Friday.
The diner, Hanna's Family Restaurant, was closed at the time. A man walking by was injured by debris and taken to Grace Hospital, where he is listed in critical condition, said Detroit Police Sgt. Jesse Cleaver.
Fire Lt. ElDon Parham said the cause of the blast around midnight was unknown, but natural gas played a part. Crews were investigating at the scene.
Firefighters battled the blaze and rerouted traffic after police blocked off the road. The fire was extinguished by 3 a.m.
Explosion Blows House Off Foundation
Fri Nov 21, 1:16 PM ET
New Bedford, Mass., emergency crews responded to the scene of a house explosion Friday morning that blew a three-story dwelling off its foundation.
Officials said the explosion happened at 533 S. Second St., at 7:42 a.m. All the residents, more than 24 people who lived in the house, escaped safely but the house was completely destroyed.
Investigators are looking for the cause of the explosion, but a natural gas line break may be to blame.
NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that the house was still standing when firefighters arrived, but it collapsed a short time later. Witnesses said the first sound they heard was a rumble, then an explosion.
"We had a report of a gas explosion when we got the call. When we arrived at the scene, the foundation was blown out, the back of the house had buckled and there was a strong smell of gas. So, at this time it's under investigation, but we believe it was caused by a gas leak. We searched the first floor. We ascertained that everybody was out of the building, so then it was just back off 'cause it was structurally unsound -- and save the buildings next door," said the district fire chief.
"Nstar workers were called to scene by fire department to assist New Bedford fire. It is a common practice for utility to be called to disconnect electric and gas service to ensure safety during fires. We're currently standing by on scene to assist officials in the ongoing investigation, but it would be premature to speculate on a cause at this time," the company said in a prepared statement.
The state fire marshal is investigating the blast.
10 Hurt as Blast Levels House; Torrance: At least 80 other homes are damaged in the powerful explosion. Officials say some sustain buckled walls or collapsed roofs.
JEAN MERL and SANDRA MURILLO. The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: Aug 14, 2002. pg. B.1
Copyright The Times Mirror Company; Los Angeles Times 2002. Allrights reserved.
A house tented for termite fumigation in Torrance blew up about dawn Tuesday, damaging at least 80 homes and injuring 10 people, none seriously.
The blast, which leveled the one-story house and scattered debris over a two-block area, was felt as far away as Manhattan Beach and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Investigators from the Torrance Fire Department and Southern California Gas Co. sifted through mounds of shattered timbers and household items but were unable by late Tuesday to identify the cause of the explosion in the 20900 block of Tom Lee Avenue.
Natalie Reed, 19, said she was sleeping in the back bedroom of her home just in front of the one that exploded on a quiet cul-de- sac. She was jolted awake by the shock of the blast and the sound of her windows shattering and glass flying across the bedroom.
"At first I just thought I was having a nightmare, then I thought we were being attacked by terrorists--I thought somebody was bombing us," said Reed as she stood with her family on a nearby lawn. Her foot, which she cut stepping on glass as she rushed out of the house, was wrapped in a makeshift bandage.
"I can't believe I'm still alive," said Reed.
The owners of the home that exploded, identified through property records as Robert T. and Helen Mimura, were out of town while the place was being fumigated, according to Tad Friedman, a spokesman for the Torrance Fire Department.
Torrance police and about 40 firefighters from the city and adjoining Redondo Beach responded to the 5:45 a.m. blast. They evacuated the area surrounding the home and soon determined no one was missing or trapped in any nearby houses.
At least 60 homes in Redondo Beach were damaged, according to Fire Chief Pat Aust, while about 20 in Torrance sustained broken windows, buckled walls or collapsed roofs, Friedman said.
Ten people, including five who were taken to hospitals, were treated for injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to sprains, Friedman said. Most were cut by broken glass as they made their way out of darkened rooms.
"We're very fortunate and very relieved that all we had were 10 minor injuries," Friedman said.
He said Torrance Building and Safety inspectors were evaluating damaged homes to determine whether they could be safely reoccupied.
The American Red Cross set up an evacuation center at nearby West High School.
Arson specialists joined the investigation, but officials said they did not suspect foul play.
Initially, representatives of Southern California Gas said they found the home's main gas valve left open, raising the possibility that natural gas had filled the tent-sealed home and may have been ignited by a pilot light. Later, however, investigators found another, unauthorized valve that had shut off the gas flow to the house, making it less likely that a natural gas buildup caused the explosion.
Fumigators are responsible for shutting off gas mains, according to utility spokesman Peter Hidalgo.
An attorney for El Redondo Termite Control in Gardena said it had subcontracted the work to Anaheim-based Network Fumigation.
"We have no information as to the cause," said the attorney, Leo Grizzaffi. "We're not even sure what work exactly was done out there."
A woman answering the phone at Network Fumigation said the company had no comment and hung up.
Many residents of the pleasant neighborhood of winding streets and well-tended homes said they thought the blast was an earthquake or perhaps an incident at a refinery a few miles away.
"It seemed like an earthquake, but there was no shaking. I didn't realize how close it was until I went to the window and saw flames shooting high into the sky just up the street from us," said Gloria Simonson.
Ann Rumbaugh, who lives half a block away, was just getting out of bed when her house shook.
"It was terrifying," she said. "At first I saw just a cloud of smoke, then the flames started."
Rumbaugh's home sustained broken windows and other damage. The worst damage was in the den, where windows shattered and sprayed a carpet of glass throughout the room where Rumbaugh likes to have her morning coffee.
"Just a few more minutes," she said, "and I would have been sitting in there, right in the middle of it."
Los Angeles; Tenant's Action Led to Apartment Blast, Probe Finds
KARIMA A. HAYNES. The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: Jun 28, 2002. pg. B.3
Copyright, The Times Mirror Company; Los Angeles Times 2002 All rights reserved.
A Los Angeles Fire Department investigation has concluded that a tenant's attempt to repair a natural gas stove in an Encino apartment building caused an explosion and fire last month in which he was killed.
The conclusion, based on a month long probe of the incident, is contained in a fire investigation report released Thursday by the department's Arson Investigation Section.
After the incident at the Park Encino apartment complex at 5325 Newcastle Ave., tenant Dennis Cohen told authorities he had disconnected a gas line in his unit and soon thereafter lighted a cigarette.
Cohen suffered burns over 55% of his body and died of his injuries at Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks two days after the explosion.
The fire caused $5 million in damage to the building and its contents, the report said.
"It is the opinion of this investigator that, based on the physical evidence ... the valve line handle was left open, allowing gas to continue flowing for a sustained period of time," wrote LAFD Arson Investigator Glen G. Lucero.
"This created an ideal gas-to-air explosive ratio," he added. "An undetermined open flame or spark was then introduced into the atmosphere, resulting in the explosion and fire."
The blast caused the total collapse of the complex's west recreation room and two units directly above on the second and third floors, the report said.
The collapse severely diminished the structural integrity of the surrounding units.
The FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department sent investigators and bomb technicians to the site.
Accelerant-sniffing dogs brought to the scene did not detect anything unusual, the report said.
Ten units in one wing were destroyed and dozens of others were damaged.
About 300 people were displaced. No residents have been allowed back into the building.
House explosion blamed on natural gas
August 13, 2002 Posted: 10:58 PM EDT (0258 GMT)
TORRANCE, California (CNN) -- An early morning explosion Tuesday that injured 10 people in suburban Los Angeles was the result of a buildup of natural gas in a house being fumigated for termites, fire officials said.
After an investigation, the Torrance Fire Department determined the gas explosion was likely triggered by fans or motors in the one-story, three-bedroom home, which was obliterated by the blast at 5:45 a.m. (8:45 a.m. EDT). No accelerants or explosives were found, according to a fire department statement.
The home was vacant at the time and had been covered with tents for fumigation. The explosion damaged more than 80 other homes, officials said.
"Somehow, there was an accumulation of natural gas in the house," said Dennis Hansen, a Torrance Fire Department operations specialist.
"The chemical used for fumigation is not explosive or flammable," he said. "When (the house) is tented, it's completely sealed. The speculation is that a natural gas leak caught an ignition source and blew."
In all, at least 39 houses in Torrance and another 41 in neighboring Redondo Beach were damaged. Ten residents received minor injuries, with five transported to area hospitals in good condition, according to the fire department.
The company fumigating the house had turned off the natural gas line at the meter, according to the fire department. Witnesses who reported smelling gas and hearing hissing before the explosion are being interviewed.
Fire, explosion ravages California complex
May 24, 2002 Posted: 6:03 PM EDT (2203 GMT)
More than 130 firefighters were called to
the burning building after the explosion
Friday morning.
ENCINO, California (CNN) -- An explosion ripped apart a three-story residential building in suburban Los Angeles on Friday, injuring at least two people and setting the structure ablaze.
It was not clear whether the units were occupied at the time. Many elderly people live in the complex, authorities said. One of the injured suffered serious burns, officials said.
"I thought at first it was an earthquake, but it felt very different," said Jennifer Adcock, who lives near the building.
The explosion was first reported at about 11 a.m. (2 p.m. EDT).
"It was actually a big jolt," Adcock said. "It shook the entire building."
White smoke poured from the three-story complex, and multiple units were destroyed. Debris was spread out over a wide area around the damaged building, and some cars in the parking lot were damaged.
A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said about 135 firefighters and 26 fire trucks responded to the scene. Firefighters stood on the roofs of nearby buildings, directing water into the flames.
Adcock said most of the buildings in the immediate neighborhood are condominiums.
Nearby residents were asked to evacuate the area and police said they are treating it as a possible crime scene, but described that as routine. Police said the move is intended to preserve possible evidence.
Robert Franco, a Los Angeles Fire Department battalion chief, said authorities suspect natural gas might be the cause of the explosion.
Southern California Gas Company dispatched someone to the scene, but a spokeswoman said it was too early to say what caused the explosion.
"The cause of the fire is still under investigation," Franco said.
Apartment blast thought tied to flood kills 6
June 18, 2001 Posted: 7:11 PM EDT (2311 GMT)
HORSHAM, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Police said Monday that six people died in a weekend explosion of a suburban Philadelphia apartment complex that came amid flooding in the area.
Upper Moreland Township Police Chief William Moffett said the coroner's office determined the remains that had been recovered this weekend belonged to six victims.
Moffett said the "condition of the bodies" led rescuers to originally believe that two victims were missing.
"Apparently, we had six separate remains yesterday," Moffett said. Earlier, authorities had said that four people had died and two were missing in the blast at the Village Green Apartments in Upper Moreland Township, in Montgomery County. The explosion shook the complex Saturday night as rescuers rushed to evacuate residents.
At Village Green Apartments, residents said they smelled gas before hearing a loud blast. The building then collapsed and burst into flames. The fire damaged two other buildings as firefighters, unable to get heavy equipment to the site because of the flooding, watched helplessly.
Flooding, lightning and tornadoes associated with the remnants of Allison have claimed at least 35 lives and left at least 13 others injured.
Officials in Texas estimate that the storm has caused more than $1 billion in damage there. Federal Emergency Management Agency figures show $2 million to $4 million in damage in Georgia and $18 million in Florida.
At least 4 perish in fire in flooded Philadelphia
June 17, 2001 Posted: 8:29 PM EDT (0029 GMT)
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- At least four people are dead and two missing after an explosion caused a flooded apartment building to collapse and catch on fire in suburban Philadelphia, where the remnants of Tropical Storm Allison dropped up to 9 inches of rain overnight.
Upper Moreland Township Police Chief William Moffett said that after floodwaters inundated the Village Green Apartments, residents reported an explosion in a building housing eight apartments, which caused the structure to collapse. A fire then broke out, which burned parts of two other buildings, he said.
Four bodies were recovered from the collapsed building, with two people missing. The search of the building had to be halted because the building was unstable, Moffett said. Fire crews are working to stabilize the building so they can search for possible victims or survivors, he said.
Moffett said the cause of the explosion has not been determined. But he said given that it occurred in the wake of the flooding, a gas explosion is a possibility.
3 people feared trapped in Brooklyn building
Gas leak suspected in explosion
July 12, 2000 Web posted at: 8:43 a.m. EDT (1243 GMT)
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Rescue workers searched the rubble of two Brooklyn buildings Wednesday morning, trying to find three people believed trapped when a suspected natural gas explosion tore through the structures, causing them to collapse.
At least two other people were injured when a four-story brownstone apartment building in the Cobble Hill neighborhood collapsed at 7:41 p.m. Tuesday, bringing down much of an adjacent three-story structure.
Among the three people missing are an 82-year-old man and his 67-year-old wife, the owners of one of the buildings.
As many as 200 fire and rescue workers combed through the debris, searching for victims.
"We're hoping to find someone who might have been caught in a spot where there was some air," Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen said. "But ... as we get further down and (the search area becomes smaller) it does become less of a possibility that they'll be alive."
He told CNN that firefighters suspect a natural gas leak may have caused the explosion. "We think it was gas. We can't say for sure, yet. A lot of people told us they smelled gas. We smelled it ourselves after we arrived here."
New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said witnesses reported they had seen several people enter the building prior to the explosion.
"It was a very, very loud explosion. We believe it was a gas explosion," the mayor said.
However, an early investigation showed no traces of natural gas in the area, said Bob Mahony, a spokesman for Key Span Energy.
"When a building collapses ... it will break gas lines on the way down. It will vent natural gas into the air. That possibly is explaining the smell early eyewitnesses had to this. But our preliminary investigation with our equipment, very sensitive equipment, is showing no natural gas in the area whatsoever," Mahony said.
Six nearby buildings were evacuated.
Search dogs "had a positive reaction for the possibility of people being inside," Giuliani said. Six people lived in the two buildings; three had been accounted for, according to the mayor.
"Everything is being done to try and remove all the debris that's there, which is unfortunately very tightly packed," the mayor said. He predicted it would take "quite some time" to remove the debris.
The rescue was made more difficult by the fact that the roof of one of the buildings fell intact, Von Essen said. "They're cutting holes through the roof ... hoping there's people trapped below that roof in a spot ... where there might be a little room for them to breathe and where they might not be crushed."
Firefighters arrived at the site within two minutes of the explosion, Giuliani said.
Rescue workers swarmed the explosion site overnight, picking through the rubble, their flashlights hunting for survivors.
"It was just one tremendous explosion. Just, boom! Nothing like you've ever heard. I've been to the fireworks on the Fourth of July. It's like standing right next to the barge (used to set off fireworks displays)," said David Owens, a neighbor. "It's a major tragedy. I can't believe this.".
Five hurt in London apartment explosion
February 16, 2000 Web posted at: 4:33 a.m. EST (0933 GMT)
LONDON (CNN) -- British officials believe an explosion that ripped through a four-story block of apartments Tuesday in London was caused by a gas leak, not terrorists.
Five people were injured in the explosion in the north London district of Holloway.
"There were five people injured. Four are not believed serious. One is believed to be serious, but not life threatening," a police spokeswoman said.
As many as 20 people were feared missing after the explosion, but that estimate was later lowered.
About 60 firefighters were called in to fight the fire caused by the explosion.
The explosion came just hours after the Irish Republican Army pulled out of disarmament talks. The group had given no suggestion they would abandon their ceasefire, but British authorities have been concerned for months that guerrilla groups opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process might launch bomb attacks.
BBC television reports the apartments are near a British Territorial Army base.
Local resident Catherine Brodie said: "We heard a loud bang and I thought it was a bomb but they are saying now it was a gas explosion."
Fire officials say there was no indication of any outside involvement.
Explosion destroys Austrian building, killing 3
December 3, 1999 Web posted at: 4:22 a.m. EST (0922 GMT)
WILHELMSBURG, Austria (CNN) -- Rescuers are searching for survivors of an explosion that demolished an apartment building, killing at least three people and burying others who had returned to their apartments after an earlier alarm.
The blast in Wilhelmsburg, 60 kilometers (35 miles) west of Vienna, may have been caused by an ignition of natural gas, authorities said. Through the night, several hundred firefighters and around 80 soldiers, many with experience in relief operations in the recent earthquake in Turkey, sifted through the rubble by hand so as not to endanger survivors. In some parts of the site, heavy equipment was used.
"We are being very careful so that if there are survivors we do not put them in any additional danger," said Lower Austria fire service chief Wilfried Weissgerber.
Two people were rescued alive, including an elderly woman whose legs were amputated so she could be pulled free. She was reported in critical condition in a hospital.
Rescuers also pulled a 15-year-old girl from the ruins alive. She was reported in stable condition at a hospital.
Emergency workers carried stretchers to the site, in case more people are found alive. At least eight people are missing, and believed trapped under the rubble. Officials said it was unlikely that many more survivors would be found.
The blast occurred just before 7 p.m. on Thursday, when many families were likely to be having dinner, in a three-story building containing 12 apartments in Wilhelmsburg, a town of 7,000 people.
Earth-moving equipment and diggers were being used in parts of the site where the building had stood.
The provincial governor of Lower Austria, Erwin Proell, said residents had earlier been evacuated because of a gas leak.
A nearby kindergarten was also evacuated. However, residents were allowed to return to their homes after repairs were made. The blast occurred about a half-hour later.
"Apparently a private company mounted a lightning protection system at the house during the afternoon. A gas pipe appears to have been cut while this was going on," Proell told Austrian television. "The house was evacuated but later declared safe."
Peter Layr, a board member of regional utility EVN which was responsible for the gas supply, said it was too early to say what had caused the accident.
Firefighters injured in house blast recovering
Yahoo News - Wed Sep 4, 2001, 8:43 AM ET
Six firefighters who were seriously injured in a fatal house explosion Sunday evening in Snow Hill continued to improve in the burn unit of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, officials said.
The men were among eight firefighters and a resident of the house who required hospitalization after a blast that killed a utility company worker. Officials suspect the explosion was caused by a propane leak.
The blast caused a wall to collapse, crushing Ignatius D. Saienni, 38, an employee of the Eastern Shore Natural Gas Co.
Officials at Bayview said the firefighters there were conscious, able to move and in good spirits. They all had been visited by family members and were asking about each other.
Tri-State Home Explodes, Gas Buildup Blamed
YaHoo News- Sun Oct 6, 2001, 10:56 PM ET
A Tri-State family escaped without injury Sunday morning when an explosion severely damaged the family's home.
A buildup of natural gas caused the explosion, which happened at about 8:15 a.m. on Lakota Ridge Drive in Liberty Township, WLWT Eyewitness News 5 reported.
Liberty Township Asst. Fire Chief Dan Bailey said that the family smelled gas in the home Saturday night, but could not determine the source of the smell.
The explosion happened as the family was leaving the home Sunday morning.
"They were inside their vehicle and they started the vehicle," Bailey said. "Subsequently, the house exploded."
The home suffered significant damage from the blast and the fire that resulted, WLWT reported.
WLWT Eyewitness News 5 and ChannelCincinnati.com will continue to update this story as additional information becomes available.
Gas explosion destroys house
By Jim Erickson, Rocky Mountain News
November 6, 2002
An unoccupied Golden home exploded and burned to the ground Tuesday after construction workers digging a trench in front of the house ruptured a natural gas pipe, police said.
No one was hurt, but more than 20 people in the neighborhood were evacuated as a precaution. Most were allowed to return home about 2 1û2 hours after the 10:20 a.m. explosion, said Julie Brooks, a spokeswoman for the Golden Police Department.
This is what's left of a house at 570 Chelan St. in Golden that was destroyed Tuesday when construction workers accidentally cut a gas line, touching off an explosion. About 20 other homes in the Eagle Ridge development were evacuated.
"It was a huge bang that rocked the house," said Jack Stell, who lives two houses down from the site at 570 Chelan St.
"I thought something big had hit my roof, like something had fallen off an airplane," Stell said.
John Kyler, who lives about 150 yards away, dialed 911 when he heard the explosion, then went outside to see what was happening.
"Within two to four minutes the house was fully involved in fire, from one end to the other," Kyler said. "It went real fast. Real fast."
The Jefferson County Assessor valued the three-bedroom split level, which was built in 1988, at $193,800 last year.
The house directly to the east sustained at least $100,000 in damages, said Kevin Milan, a division chief with the Golden Volunteer Fire Department. That house also was unoccupied.
"When we arrived, this house was fully involved - two solid floors of fire - and heavy fire on the west side of the next-door house," he said.
"There was nothing to save (at 570 Chelan), so we concentrated on the neighbor's house," he said. "In another two or three minutes, it would have been in the same condition as the other one."
Firefighters from the West Metro and Pleasant View fire departments helped battle the blaze.
Workers under contract with Qwest were digging a trench in front of the two homes when the gas line was severed - 10 to 15 minutes before the explosion occurred.
A crew from Xcel Energy was on its way to turn off gas lines when the explosion occurred.
Hopes fade for blast survivors
August 13, 2002 Posted: 10:58 PM EDT (0258 GMT)
MOSCOW, Russia -- An investigation has started into the cause of an explosion at a block of flats in Moscow that killed at least eight people.
Emergency crews said they were concluding a rescue operation and were looking to recover bodies, as hopes faded for finding any people alive in the rubble.
Workers have recovered eight bodies from the debris, officials said. Russian television reported that the dead included a baby, a four-year-old and two teenagers.
The explosion rocked the five-story building in northern Moscow late on Tuesday night, creating a huge hole in the front of the building. Officials said 11 flats had been destroyed, although the exact number of dead remained unclear, because some residents may have been away at the time.
It was unclear whether officials expected to find more victims. Earlier, when only one body had been recovered, the Emergency Situations Ministry said 12 people were missing.
Moscow authorities say the explosion may have been caused by gas.
At least five residents were taken to hospital with injuries, including a woman with 80 percent burns, Russian television reported. A rescue worker was also injured when he fell from the second story of the building while clearing debris, reports said.
Russian authorities said preliminary investigations pointed to a natural gas leak as the likely cause of the blast.
Natural gas could be smelt around the scene dismissing early reports by residents that they had detected whiffs of gunpowder. Rescuers, including police, special forces, and army troops used dogs to search for anyone who might still be trapped, pausing to hear for any sounds that might indicate life.
Russian media reported about 166 people were in the apartment building when the blast occurred.
Previous deadly bomb attacks on Moscow apartments and in the southern city of Volgodonsk in 1999 had sparked concern that this might have been another such act but Moscow Prosecutor Mikhail Avdyukov was quoted by Reuters as telling NTV commercial television there had been a fire with a gas explosion in flat 28 on the second floor.
Rescuers clawed their way through rubble for 12 hours hoping to find trapped residents. "It was not a canister of gas, but gas which people use to cook food on a gas stove," he said.
Gas blasts are frequent in Russia, where the use of aging gas cookers is common and safety procedures are often ignored.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had dispatched Shoigu and the director of the FSB domestic security service, Nikolai Patrushev, to the site on hearing of the disaster.