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Water
Residents were without water for a few hours this afternoon due to the severance of two water service lines. The break occurred around 3 p.m. when the contractor installing the storm drains for an upcoming construction project cut the service lines.
Link: "Water main breaks on Cherry Street"
TheVolanteOnline.com
UF Accident #5841
Vermillion, SD 09/03/2008
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Gas
Two homes were evacuated because of a broken gas line. No injuries were reported. A contractor broke a 1-inch line shortly before noon. The incident caused a minor traffic tie-up during the midday lunch rush. A city official said the line had not been located when crews accidentally struck it.
Link: "Gas leak forces Las Cruces home evacuations"
Las Cruces Sun-News
UF Accident #5844
Las Cruces, NM 09/03/2008
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Gas
An elementary school was briefly evacuated after a piece of construction equipment hit a gas line. The disruption lasted about 30 minutes. Emergency crews were called to the school at about 11 a.m. after a bobcat hit a small natural gas line on the north side of the school. Fire officials advised an evacuation as a precautionary measure because the wind was blowing from the north. Kansas Gas Service workers were able to shut off the gas line at 11:30 a.m. Students returned to the building a short time later.
Link: "Wiley evacuated after gas line hit"
The Hutchinson News
UF Accident #5843
Hutchinson, KS 09/03/2008
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Gas
A local road was closed following a gas leak. A contractor ruptured a gas main while digging.The road was closed in both directions for about 45 minutes. Twelve buildings on the street were evacuated while PSE&G responded to repair and cap the ruptured 1-inch line, according to the Morristown Fire Department. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office is investigating to determine how the line was ruptured.
Link: "Abbett Ave. reopened following gas leak"
DailyRecord.com
UF Accident #5826
Morristown, NJ 08/31/2008
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Gas
For the second time in three days, construction crews working near a high school broke a gas pipe causing a leak that required the closure of a street. The leak was reported at 10:43 a.m., and crews had the leak capped by 11:05 a.m. Crews working on excavation at the site hit the 4-inch plastic pipe, causing a cloud of dirt and gas and forcing the evacuation of staff from the school and nearby homes while crews checked the gas levels in the cloud. The cloud did not have dangerous levels. The street was closed for about 45 minutes while crews cleaned debris from the road and completed safety checks. Earlier in the week, an excavator hit the pipeline 10 feet away from the second break. The road had to be closed while the leak was capped on that day as well. PSE will be investigating both the incidents in and noted that there could be fines for the contractor from either or both incidents.
Link: "Contractor hits gas line, causes leak for second time in three days"
Sammamish Reporter
UF Accident #5827
Sammamish, GA 08/28/2008
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Gas
An elementary school was briefly evacuated after a construction crew cut a natural gas line. Kendallville firefighters were called to the school about 10:15 a.m. The construction crew was trying to lay conduits for fiber optic lines through the school yard and cut the unmarked gas line. Northern Indiana Fuel and Light shut off the gas about 15 minutes later.said. Fire crews also evacuated nearby homes and a doctor’s office.
Link: "School empties as Noble gas line cut"
Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette
UF Accident #5830
Kendallville, IN 08/28/2008
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Gas
A local street was temporarily closed to traffic after construction workers hit a gas main at about 9:20 a.m. A sub-contractor building a not-yet-opened fitness center accidentally clipped the gas main while they were excavating.
Link: "Gas main clipped on Bergen Avenue"
The Jersey Journal
UF Accident #5833
Jersey City, NJ 08/27/2008
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Gas
Residents from a dozen homes were evacuated for more than an hour after a backhoe reportedly hit a natural gas line. A spray of gas and dust near the backhoe was visible from about a block away. Nearly 20 people were forced from their homes while the leak was repaired. Several fire and police vehicles blocked intersections around the leak.
Link: "Ogden gas leak forces evacuations"
StandardNET
UF Accident #5807
Ogden, UT 08/26/2008
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Comm
Phone service to the Friendswood Public Safety building was cut when a construction crew severed all phone lines into the facility. No emergency calls were delayed or lost because of the outage. The telephone lines were restored by 2 p.m., a police spokeswoman said. Calls for police and fire assistance were routed through the Webster Police Department while the lines were being repaired. All other calls were routed to Friendswood City Hall. Officials said a preliminary review of 911 calls during the disruption showed that no emergency calls were delayed or went unanswered. One call for emergency medical services was processed and a helicopter ambulance was dispatched while the phone system was being repaired, police officials said. A construction crew working between the public safety building and FM 528 cut the underground cables and wires about 10 a.m. Officials from the Fire Marshal's Office and Community Development were evaluating the damage and determining whether the construction crew committed any violations and had all relevant permits for the operation.
Link: "Crew cuts phone lines to Friendswood public safety"
Houston Chronicle
UF Accident #5832
Friendswood, TX 08/26/2008
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Sewer
The rupture of a sanitary sewer line sent 600 gallons of sewage and industrial wastewater into the Battle Creek River. A contractor broke the line while doing some sewer repairs near cereal maker Kellogg Company’s administration building. The sewage overflowed into the basement of the Kellogg building, then went into a basement floor drain that empties into the river. The city environmental services director said some water samples were taken from the river, but he doesn't expect to find any problems.
Link: "600 gals. of sewage sent into Battle Creek River"
MLive.com
UF Accident #5834
Battle Creek, MI 08/26/2008
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Gas
Two houses were evacuated after a gas line was struck about 9:30 a.m. No one was injured. Allegheny Power employees were digging in the area when they struck a 3-inch gas line. Though the line released gas until it was shut off by officials, there was no fire. Fire personnel from four counties responded.
Link: "Two houses evacuated after gas leak"
Frederick News-Post
UF Accident #5831
Kemptown, MD 08/25/2008
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Gas
A ruptured gas line held up eastbound traffic on along a street just off the interstate for several hours. Construction workers were drilling and cut into a 4-inch gas line. Ocala Fire Rescue units responded to the incident at 12:33 p.m. to assist TECO Gas workers with repair of the line.
Link: "Ruptured gas line stalls traffic on SR 200"
Ocala.com
UF Accident #5818
Ocala, FL 08/23/2008
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Power
Nearly 3,000 customers lost power for nearly three hours after a contractor digging in the area damaged PPL electric lines. A PPL spokesman said workers left the scene immediately after hitting the line. PPL is attempting to identify who or what company was doing the work.
Link: "Contractor causes power outage"
The Patriot-News
UF Accident #5817
Cumberland County, PA 08/22/2008
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Power
A health facility lost power and canceled all medical procedures fter an excavator dug up a power line. The heavy machinery pulled a cable from a transformer near the medical facility, which caused the outage from 10:25 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A small amount of fluid leaked from the transformer, but was cleaned up, officials said. Ohio Edison will follow its typical procedure to recover losses when its power lines are disturbed.
Link: "Power Outage Caused by Excavator"
The Chronicle-Telegram
UF Accident #5819
Elyria, OH 08/22/2008
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Gas
A street was while officials cleaned up a gas leak. A backhoe struck a 2-inch gas line next to a home under construction. Fire crews shut down a block along the street while gas streamed out of the break, making a loud hissing noise. Fire officials said the danger was low because of stiff breeze.
Link: "Gas leak closes Bozeman street"
KPAX-TV
UF Accident #5806
Missoula, MT 08/21/2008
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Gas
Redlands Fire Department evacuated workers from the construction site following a gas leak. A worker using a backhoe to dig a water trench struck a 3-inch natural gas line shortly before noon. Fire Department crews closed off the site and stood by with emergency equipment until the gas company could seal off the line. Several homes under construction were considered threatened as gas spewed from the broken pipe. The gas company closed off the line shortly after 1 p.m. and began repairs on the broken section. No injuries were reported.
Link: "Workers evacuated after construction crew hits gas line"
Redlands Daily Facts
UF Accident #5820
Redlands`, CA 08/21/2008
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Gas
Traffic was diverted for about an hour near the site of a natural gas leak. A contractor punctured a 1-inch gas line with a backhoe at a construction site. Firefighters described the accident which was near an elementary school as a major gas leak. A second incident occurred the following morning when a backhoe was being used to install new utilities struck a 2-inch line.
Link: "Utility-related accidents close roads"
The Record-Courier
UF Accident #5808
Gardnerville, NV 08/20/2008
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Gas
A ruptured gas line caused evacuations, a road closure and affected numerous Vectren customers along a four-mile stretch of highway. Construction crews punctured the 6-inch pipeline while installing a new box culvert. Fire officials evacuated 15 businesses and homes in the area. Gas customers near the site of the accident, including a local new elementary school that had opened for first time that day, lost service. Morning commuters were detoured around the closed section of highway.
Link: "Gas leak disrupts Brownsburg school, residents and commuters"
Indianapolis Star
UF Accident #5816
Brownsburg, IN 08/20/2008
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Gas
An intersection in downtown was closed following a natural gas leak. A construction crew was digging to install a 12-inch water main when it hit a 4-inch natural gas line just before 11 a.m. Firefighters closed off the area to traffic. There were no injuries and no evacuations of the nearby county government center and World Market Center. Southwest Gas crews arrived a short time later to cut off the gas supply in the line. Inspectors said the construction crew did call to learn the location of the gas line before digging, but the gas line that was ruptured was not marked.
Link: "Gas Break Shuts Down Intersection"
KXNT
UF Accident #5809
Las Vegas, NV 08/18/2008
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Gas
The intersection on the city’s south side was closed for more than three hours after a natural gas leak. A construction crew was excavating when a backhoe struck a 4-inch high pressure gas transfer line. No one was injured, but traffic at the normally busy intersection was closed. A South Elgin firefighter said 15 residents in the area were evacuated as most residents living in the area were not home at the time.
Link: "Elgin intersection reopened after gas leak"
Daily Herald
UF Accident #5812
Elgin, IL 08/18/2008
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Gas
A road was closed for three hours following a broken natural gas main. A construction crew had punctured a gas main while building a storm drain near a parking lot. No evacuations were necessary. Consumers Power took three hours to repair the main, fire officials said.
Link: "Gas main break forces road closure"
Detroit Free Press
UF Accident #5813
West Bloomfield, MI 08/18/2008
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Gas
A major road was closed in both directions during the afternoon commute that extended into the next morning following a gas leak. Utility workers boring under the road struck a 6-inch gas main.
Link: "Coors NW likely still closed for morning commute"
KRQE
UF Accident #5814
Albuquerque, NM 08/18/2008
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Gas
City firefighters spent a few hours keeping an eye on a gas leak after an excavation crew installing sewers accidentally punctured a 3-inch line feeding a local plastics plant. The medium-pressure line was spitting out natural gas at 600 pounds per square inch, a fire official said. Fire officials monitored the site taking readings with meters, but detected no significant amount of gas in the air. The break occurred at a point where the 3-inch plastic gas line splits off a larger 5-inch metallic line. The excavation work was being done in a hole that was roughly 10 feet across and six feet deep. Fire officials said the line appeared to be unmarked. While no one was injured and no evacuations were necessary, the incident shut down production for the day for the excavating and paving company.
Link: "Gas Line Broken in Avon Lake"
The Chronicle-Telegram
UF Accident #5815
Avon Lake, OH 08/18/2008
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Gas
A construction crew installing wiring y under a bridge accidentally ruptured a natural gas main, closing the bridge to traffic for almost two horus. The crew was installing wiring for the bridge infrastructure between the two spans of the bridge when it hit a 2-inch line. Initially they thought it was a 6-inch that was in the same area and was marked. This one they were not aware was there, fire officials said. Officials said the main appears to be left from when there were homes in the area. It was still pressurized and fed from two directions, so they had to clamp it off from both sides of the leak. The fire department closed the bridge to traffic after finding unsafe natural gas levels on the bridge deck. Officials notified U.S. and Canadian border authorities as well as the Port Huron Police Department and the Sarnia and Pointe Edward fire departments in Ontario.
Link: "Ruptured gas main closes bridge"
Port Huron Times Herald
UF Accident #5837
Port Huron, MI 08/17/2008
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Gas
A gas leak forced police to evacuate residents for several hours. Tupelo Water and Light workers were digging to install a light pole when they punctured the gas main. There were no injuries from the accident.
Link: "Gas leak causes evacuation "
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal
UF Accident #5811
Tupelo, MS 08/15/2008
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Gas
Seven residents were evacuated from five homes for nearly three hours following a natural gas leak. Two roads were also closed because of the leak. A construction worker drilled into a natural gas line and also pierced a sewer line. Southwest Gas crews spent three hours fixing the pipes. Rural Metro firefighters and Pima County Sheriffs were also at the scene.
Link: "Eastside Gas Leak Prompts Evacuation"
KOLD-TV
UF Accident #5810
Tucson, AZ 08/15/2008
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Gas
Workers severed an underground gas line sparking a fire that seriously damaged a home. The fire broke out around 10:00 a.m. According to the homeowners, workers with a local sprinkler company were in the process of installing a French drain when they accidentally clipped the gas line. The homeowner said utility lines were marked the previous day, but the gas pipe wasn’t buried as deep as crews thought. The fire caused extensive damage to one side of the home, but no injuries.
Link: "Workers Accidentally Spark House Fire "
MyFoxColorado.com
UF Accident #5797
Greeley, CO 08/13/2008
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Gas
Business at Winfield Plaza and the Winfield Professional Building came to a brief halt due to a natural gas leak. Many business owners voluntarily evacuated their stores while they patiently waited for the repair work to be completed. The leak occurred when an excavator operator working on a nearby road dug into a gas header by mistake. The pipe that was hit was used to supply Winfield Plaza. A Terasen employee who attended the scene to fix the leak stated that the excavator crew was following the proper procedures for working near a gas line which includes having a man on the ground with a shovel who is watching to make sure the excavator doesn’t hit the pipe. To fix the leak, the excavator was used to dig a second hole exposing the header several feet closer towards the gas mainline that supplies the header. The repair crew then cut off the gas supply to Winfield Plaza by pinching off the header in the newly created hole, much the same as a person might put a kink in a garden hose to stop the flow of water. With the gas cut off the Terasen employees moved to the damaged part of the header, carried out their repairs, and then released the pinch. The Lake Country Fire Department was also called out and was helping to secure the area. Gas from the leak was blowing straight up into the air and dissipating, minimizing any risk of combustion.
Link: "Excavator hits gas line"
Lake Country Calendar
UF Accident #5798
Winfield, British Columbia 08/13/2008
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Power
A construction worker was stuck in his truck after a drill he was operating punched into a power line and knocked out electricity to 79 Xcel Energy customers. The incident began at about 10:30 a.m. when a worker was drilling to replace a concrete footer for a traffic signal. The worker was running a derrick digger attached to the rear of his truck when it hit the line. Fire officials said there appeared to be three separate explosions coming out of the hole, shooting flames 4 or 5 feet into the air. A steel rod connecting the truck to the ground assured that the operator was safe as long as he stayed in the truck. But there was concern that if he stepped out, he could be electrocuted when his foot hit the ground, a fire official said. The operator was removed from the truck safely.
Link: "Drill operator hits power line, creates Dougco outage"
DenverPost.com
UF Accident #5799
Denver, CO 08/13/2008
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Gas
McKinney police and firefighters evacuated an eight-block area of downtown after an excavation crew ruptured a natural gas line. All businesses and residents surrounding the old courthouse square — including all businesses and McKinney City Hall — were cleared after the two-inch gas line was severed by a city crew working on a sewer replacement project just before 8 a.m.
Link: "Gas leak leads to evacuations in McKinney "
WFAA-TV
UF Accident #5796
McKinney, TX 08/13/2008
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Gas
A portion of a local street was temporarily closed following a gas leak. A crew was repairing a stop light that was down around 9:30 a.m. when a contractor drilling at the location he hit a gas line. Authorities immediately evacuated two homes next to the work site and closed the street. The street was closed for 45 minutes while crews capped the gas leak. Businesses in the area did not have to be evacuated.
Link: "Pekin Gas Leak "
WEEK News 25
UF Accident #5800
Pekin, IL 08/13/2008
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Comm
Local residents and businesses were without phone service after a cable was severed. A contractor extending a culvert sliced through the cable around Noon. The incident cut out phone service to approximately 800 residences and businesses in the north end of Chatham. The cut affected voice, Internet and data service -- such as bank machines. 911 services can continue to be accessed from cellular phones, which were not affected. Chatham city officials, including EMS, were notified of the situation.
Link: "Severed cable silences phones"
The Chatham Daily News
UF Accident #5801
Chatham, Ontario 08/12/2008
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Gas
A natural gas leak temporarily disrupted traffic in downtown Fayetteville. A construction company ruptured a large gas line about 11 a.m. A city spokesman said the leak was fixed within an hour.
One building was evacuated as a precaution.
Link: "Gas leak disrupts traffic"
The Fayetteville Ovserver
UF Accident #5794
Fayetteville, NC 08/12/2008
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Gas
A gas leak forced the closure of a road for about an hour Monday morning. Officials said that around 10:30 a.m. a gas line was accidentally cut by a construction crew using an excavator. The Dothan Fire Department responded to the scene and evacuated a shopping center. Southeast Alabama Gas district quickly repaired the line.
Link: "Gas Leak Temporarily Closes Inez Road "
WTVY
UF Accident #5792
Dothan, AL 08/11/2008
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Gas
Seven residents were evacuated from their homes for most of the day after a gas leak. The 1-inch gas main was severed by construction workers doing road reconstruction about 11:20 a.m. Following the accident, gas company employee roamed the area with probes, checking the concentration of gas. After Great Bend police officers helped evacuate the one-square-block area, fire department officials stood by should they be needed. But, for the most part, only gas company workers were allowed in the evacuation zone. Wheatland Electric crews were also on hand. A gentle southerly breeze prevented the homes south of the leak from being affected. It also helped dissipate the gas. Gas company employees were able to repair the line without incident.
Link: "Residents evacuated after work cuts gas line"
Great Bend Tribune
UF Accident #5793
Great Bend, KS 08/11/2008
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Gas
Two buildings on the University of Arizona campus had to be evacuated after a gas line was struck with a backhoe. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. when a contractor struck a 4-inch line. Southwest Gas turned off the gas at 8:44 a.m. and restored service by about 10 a.m.
Link: "Gas leak prompts evacuations on University of Arizona campus"
Arizona Daily Star
UF Accident #5788
Tucson, AZ 08/08/2008
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Gas
A local street was shut down briefly following a gas main break. Vectren officials said contractors struck a marked, 4-inch gas line while working on the sewers. There were no evacuations, but Vectren officials said some businesses nearby were affected while crews fix the main. This is the second gas rupture in the area.
Link: "Gas line rupture closes St. Joe"
14 WFIE
UF Accident #5789
Evansville, IN 08/08/2008
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Gas
A local high school and neighboring homes were evacuated after workers punctured a gas line. Workers were installing a 30-inch drain line on when they punctured the gas line. The fire department assisted in the evacuations.
Link: "Workers puncture gas line at Newton North"
Newton Tab and Daily News Tribune
UF Accident #5790
Newton, MA 08/08/2008
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Gas
A section of a local road was closed while crews repaired a ruptured gas line. Workers using a boring machine struck the gas line about 11 a.m. Traffic was detoured to avoid the area just off the interstate until about 2 p.m.
Link: "Hamilton Road reopens after gas-line repair"
The Columbus Dispatch
UF Accident #5783
Gahanna, OH 08/07/2008
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Gas
A section of a street that runs through downtown Hamilton was closed to traffic after a gas line snapped in front of a local gift shop. Traffic was rerouted from just after 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. when the northbound lane was reopened. The road was reopened to both lanes by 5:30 p.m. A construction crew for Verizon was working near the area when a gas line was accidentally struck. The Fire Department evacuated several businesses in the area.
Link: "Gas leak shuts down downtown businesses; reroutes traffic"
Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle
UF Accident #5784
Hamilton, MA 08/07/2008
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Gas
A busy area of suburban Auckland was evacuated for more than an hour after a major gas leak. The leak occurred when a digger ruptured a large gas main. Fire fighters were concerned the situation could get serious if the gas came into contact with a flame. Three pipes in all had to be clamped and that caused traffic delays.
Link: "Gas leak forces street closures "
New Zealand Herald
UF Accident #5779
Auckland Region 08/07/2008
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Gas
Oklahoma Natural Gas said a high-pressure pipeline that is the sole source of natural gas to Elk City was severed. There were no explosion and no injuries were reported. A crew was doing fiber-optics work when the six-inch diameter line was severed. An official said the break affected about 5,700 meters or customers in the west-central Oklahoma town of more than 10,000 residents. Crews worked throughout the night with additional employees brought in from around the state to make repairs.
Link: "Severe line leaves town without gas"
KTEN
UF Accident #5785
Elk City , OK 08/07/2008
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Gas
Police and fire officials were called to the scene of a gas leak reported at about 4:30 p.m.MidAmerican Energy officials were on the scene to shut off the flow to the leak at about 6:15 p.m. The intersection is under construction. A contractor moving dirt struck a 4-inch gas main that was exposed by the project, said a MidAmerican Energy spokeswoman. Although the hiss of escaping gas could be heard a block away from the rupture, no one was evacuated from the area. Light wind let the gas dissipate minimizing the threat, fire officials said. No customers lost service because of the leak.
Link: "Gas leak at Waterloo intersection under construction"
WCFCourier.com
UF Accident #5786
Waterloo, IA 08/07/2008
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Comm
Residents of Saline and western Pittsfield Township spent much of the day without phone service after a construction crew severed an underground line. The outage affected landline phones, dial-up Internet service and rendered cell phone service spotty into Lenawee County. The phone outage began when a construction crew operating near a car dealership struck the cable. The line, which officials believe stretches from Saline to Ann Arbor, was mismarked or mapped incorrectly earlier in the week, officials said.
Link: "Phone service restored"
Ann Arbor News
UF Accident #5787
Pittsfield Township, MI 08/07/2008
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Gas
Construction workers accidentally hit a 1-inch natural gas line while excavating an area to install new water lines. Emergency personnel arrived within minutes to secure the area. A gas company crew arrived within the hour and was able to squeeze off the polyethylene pipe to stop the outflow of the natural gas. The service line was being used by an area church. A worker with the construction company said the gas main was clearly marked but not the service line.
Link: "Contractor cuts natural gas line"
Coastal Courier
UF Accident #5774
Hinesville, GA 08/06/2008
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Gas
UPDATE: Atmos Energy and one of its subcontractors face up to $80,000 in fines after a state regulator found several violations tied to a May explosion along a gas pipeline in McKinney. An investigation conducted by the Texas Railroad Commission claims maintenance and response crews did not follow some key emergency and operating procedures before and after hitting a gas line that caused two massive explosions last May. TRC documented eight violations, six by Atmos and two by M.J. Sheridan of Texas, whose work crew cut the pipeline May 16 while boring into the ground. Three people were flown to Dallas-area hospitals on May 16 after a punctured gas line caused natural gas to seep into two homes through sewer lines and resulted in an explosion. One of the women died on from her injuries. The first 10 pages of the 40 page report detail the events leading up to the explosion and the violations allegedly committed by both companies. RRC cited six violations against Atmos Energy and two against M.J. Sheridan in the report. An Atmos service technician arrived at the site of the leak less than 30 minutes after crews struck the gas line. The technician detected leaking gas in a nearby storm drain and tried to vent it by opening a manhole cover, but failed to check the sewer system itself to see if more gas had escaped, according to the report. The report also states that crews did not try to evacuate any homes in the area and did not call emergency services after causing the leak. The only report city emergency dispatchers received regarding the leak were from two nearby residents after the gas ignited. The report states that had emergency officials been dispatched sooner, they may have made the determination if homes needed to be evacuated. RRC investigators also determined M.J. Sheridan did not follow proper procedures will digging in the roadway. The report states he scope of work called for the new 4-inch polyethylene main to be installed at a depth of 42-inches and that dirt within 12 inches of the existing pipeline will be hand dug. M.J. Sheridan did not hand dig within the 12 inches as required.
Link: "RRC report cites violations in McKinney gas explosions"
McKinney Courier-Gazette
UF Accident #5777
McKinney, TX 08/06/2008
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Gas
A gas leak has forced the evacuation of several buildings in the Ayrsley area of southwest Charlotte. Excavation equipment ruptured the line. According to authorities, there have been a number of evacuations in the area, and traffic is being rerouted from two of the main roads in the area.
Link: "Gas Leak Forces Evacuations in Ayrsley Community"
The Charlotte Observer
UF Accident #5778
Charlotte, NC 08/06/2008
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Gas
A section of a local road was shut down after a company installing a new telephone line hit an improperly marked gas line causing a leak. Rockland & Orange Utilities brought a crew to fix the leak and also cut power supply to the area to prevent a spark from igniting. The fire department responded to the scene. They brought in a generator to ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply to a woman living in the area who is on life support.
Link: "Gas leak in Garnerville"
Low Hudson Journal News
UF Accident #5780
Garnerville, NY 08/06/2008
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Comm
Customers lost text and cellular phone service after a contractor digging out a new bridge hit a fiber optic cable. Repair crews installed a temporary cable across the river and were able to restore the service before midnight. The damaged cable affected both TBayTel and Bell customers. Officials said the incident reinforces the fact that people need to contact the city's Land Use Authority and properly locate phone cables and utilities before starting to dig anything. Service to Thunder Bay telephone cellular customers throughout Northwestern Ontario was affected and customers may have experienced problems with text messaging, and roaming services to the regional network for voice and data services.
Link: "Severed fibre-optic cable repaired, service restored"
Thunder Bay
UF Accident #5775
Thunder Bay, Ontario 08/05/2008
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Gas
Fire officials closed part of a local street and evacuated two area businesses after a construction crew severed a natural gas line in downtown Mancelona, the second such incident in nine months. Gas spewed for hours in downtown Mancelona after construction workers struck a 3-inch steel gas main with a large backhoe while installing a sewer line shortly after 11 a.m. This is the same crew that hit one in downtown Mancelona last fall, a fire official said. The gas line was marked, officials said.
Link: "Another gas leak in downtown Mancelona"
Traverse City Record-Eagle
UF Accident #5776
Mancelona, MI 08/05/2008
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Gas
Five people were evacuated from their homes after a landscaping company ruptured a natural gas line in their neighborhood. Firefighters were alerted to the problem when neighbors called to report a hissing sound at a newly constructed home, according to the West Vancouver Fire and Rescue division chief. Three neighboring homes were evacuated for about an hour, and a nearby construction site was shut down to avoid the possibility of sparks setting off an explosion. Workers from Terasen Gas repaired the break soon after the residents returned to their homes. Firefighters ventilated the evacuated homes using fans.
Link: "Leak leads to evacuation"
North Shore News
UF Accident #5795
North Vancouver, British Columbia 08/05/2008
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Comm
Web sites for several businesses including Jacksonville’s city hall and the Duval County school system were not operational for most of the day after a Comcast fiber optics cable was sliced. Comcast officials blame the cut on a utility crew accident that cut a large cable. A JEA spokesman said a company they used to locate buried cables around its work sites gave "incorrect" information to a JEA crew that was setting poles. School and city officials said the outages meant lots of people calling for information normally available online.
Link: "Incorrect JEA info led to a Comcast cable cut"
Jacksonville.com
UF Accident #5762
Jacksonville, FL 08/04/2008
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Gas
A gas leak prompted fire officials the evacuation of 10 homes. A company doing directional underground boring accidentally hit a gas line. Residents were taken to the fire hall until the area was secured. Consumers Energy shut off the gas line. Residents were allowed to return home about two hours after the accident.
Link: "Gas Leak Prompts Evacuation Of Residents In Pinckney "
WHMI 93.5 FM Radio
UF Accident #5772
Pinckney, MI 08/04/2008
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Gas
A gas main break forced evacuation of four homes. A construction crew repairing a water main punctured a 1-inch, high-pressure gas main at 8:40 a.m., spewing gas into the street. Residents were allowed to return to their homes by 10:30 a.m. PSE&G shut off the gas at 9:55 a.m., temporarily cutting off service to two homes. Fire officials also closed off a two block section on the street where the accident occurred.
Link: "Families flee spewing gas in Kearny"
The Jersey Journal
UF Accident #5770
Kearny, NJ 08/01/2008
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Gas
Most of downtown Flomaton was evacuated following a gas leak that sent one gas company employee to the hospital. Workers with the Town of Flomaton were doing a routine movement of a water line when a gas line was damaged. It took authorities about an hour to cap off the leak.
Link: "Downtown Flomaton Evacuated Following Major Gas Leak; One Injured"
NorthEscambia.com
UF Accident #5766
Flomaton, FL 07/31/2008
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Comm
Long-distance telephone service to parts of southwestern Crawford County was out for most of the day. The outage happened at about 11 a.m., when workers severed a Windstream Communications line. About 3,200 customers lost long-distance service. Local telephone service was not affected, she said. Firefighters were stationed at the three volunteer fire departments to answer emergency calls.
Link: "Long-distance service knocked out"
GoEire.com
UF Accident #5767
Crawford County, PA 07/31/2008
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Gas
Officials evacuated 20 homes after a natural gas main was ruptured. A contractor reported a 6-centimeter break in a line at a site. About 20 homes within a 100-metre radius of the site were evacuated and emergency officials closed the area to traffic for two hours. Officials brought in two school buses to help with the evacuation to the Oromocto Community Center. The contractor who called in the leak had been digging with heavy equipment at a home when he pierced the gas line. The town activated its emergency operations center to support Oromocto's fire department during the situation.
Link: "Gas leak forces brief evacuation"
The Daily Gleaner
UF Accident #5768
Fredericton, New Brunswick 07/31/2008
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Comm
More than 700 customers lost telephone service after a contractor cut three AT&T phone lines. Many of the lines were still out the following morning, but most were expected to be working that evening. Two of the severed lines were fiber cable, which affected several businesses. Residential lines operated off a copper cable that was severed. AT&T officials said they had been called to locate their lines, but the contractor still hit three of their lines.
Link: "Outage affects more than 700 telephone customers "
stjoenews.net
UF Accident #5769
St. Joseph, MO 07/31/2008
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Water
A man was thrown more than 10 feet when he was struck by a valve from an exploding water main. Contract workers were installing a water main. Two workers were inside the trench when the water main exploded. A valve on the water main flew up and hit one of them. The 16-inch pipe had 80 pounds of pressure in it and filled up the trench almost instantly. The uninjured worker escaped immediately, while the 62-year-old man hit by the valve had to be rescued. A fire official said he was underwater for about 10 to 20 seconds before he was pulled to safety. The Yankton Fire Department assisted in getting the man to an ambulance. He was transported to a local hospital with chest injuries from the impact.
Link: "Man Injured In Water Main Accident"
Yankton Press & Dakotan
UF Accident #5763
Yankton, SD 07/30/2008
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Gas
One lane of a local street was closed for four hour following a gas line break. Construction crews working on the new village hall cut a natural gas line beneath the street at 11 a.m. Westbound lanes were open during repairs on four-lane road, and only one lane was open going east. All lanes were operating by 3 p.m.
Link: "Gas line break closes lanes "
Pioneer Local
UF Accident #5764
Wheeling, IL 07/30/2008
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Gas
A gas leak shut down traffic on a turnpike and a nearby exit road during the lunch hour. According to Chesterfield fire officials, the rupture was caused by a construction crew that tore a commercial 4-inch gas line. Officials said it was a significant leak. To compare sizes, a residential line is an inch or less. Emergency crews were forced to shut down portions the roadways while the gas vapors, which looked like smoke from the dust and dirt, blew into the air. Despite the scary appearance, fire officials said evacuations of area businesses were not necessary. Even though you could see it and smell it, they said the gas was evaporating quickly enough that it was not a health threat.
Link: "Midlothian Turnpike Reopens After Gas Leak"
WRIC
UF Accident #5754
Chesterfield, VA 07/29/2008
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Gas
Police closed a major intersection during rush hour following a ruptured gas main in Symmes Township. A backhoe hit the main around 8 a.m. at the intersection of two major roads. Crews had to shut down that intersection and divert traffic while they capped the main. The intersection reopened at 10:30 a.m.
Link: "Gas Main Ruptured in Symmes Township"
WKRC-TV
UF Accident #5753
Symmes Township, OH 07/29/2008
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Gas
A one mile stretch of highway was shut down following a natural gas leak. Workers with a subcontractor of the Michigan Department of Transportation were replacing sign posts along the highway when they ruptured a gas line. Local police immediately evacuated nearby homes and closed down the affected stretch of highway.
Link: "Gas line ruptures "
WLUC TV6
UF Accident #5758
Bates Township, MI 07/29/2008
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Gas
More than 50 people were evacuated from homes and businesses and a portion of a local road was closed for more than three hours following a natural gas leak, but was reopened for the evening commute. City workers were putting in an electrical line when they hit a 6-inch gas line. The city’s gas division arrived and began patching the line. City and county fire, police and rescue squads assisted with the evacuations.
Link: " Gas leak contained; road should reopen"
Rocky Mount Telegram
UF Accident #5759
Rocky Mount, NC 07/29/2008
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Gas
Residents near a local high school were asked to leave their homes after a gas leak in the area. The Mount Airy Fire Department responded to the natural-gas incident about 7:25 a.m. after worker operating a backhoe hit and damaged the 2-inch gas line. Streets around the damaged line were also blocked off until Frontier Energy could repair the line.
Employees at a nearby business also were advised to move to other parts of the building farther away from the damaged line. The displaced residents were able to return to their homes after about 30 minutes.
Link: "Gas leak occurs near high school"
The Mount Airy News
UF Accident #5760
Mount Airy, NC 07/29/2008
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Gas
A block of a main street was closed because of a gas line break. Construction crews hit a natural gas line while digging around 2:30 p.m. Several businesses had to be evacuated.
Link: "Shoppers evacuated because of gas leak"
9News.com
UF Accident #5756
Frisco, CO 07/28/2008
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Gas
Residents in Montgomery Township were evacuated from their homes following a gas main break. County construction crews working in the area accidentally hit a gas valve while replacing a water culvert under the road around 1 p.m. The road was already closed for the construction work. Eight homes were searched. Only eight residents were home to be evacuated, fire officials said. The first aid squad provided them with water while they waited on front lawns in the shade. Public Service Electric & Gas responded, shutting off the gas, and after about an hour residents returned to their homes. No one was injured.
Link: "Gas main break routs Montgomery residents"
myCentralJersey.com
UF Accident #5757
Montgomery Township, NJ 07/28/2008
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Comm
About 1,400 Time Warner customers lost service in East Raleigh after a contractor severed an underground fiber optic cable. Time Warner was notified about 3 p.m. that a cable had been cut about eight feet below ground. Customers lost connection to cable television, digital phone and Internet service. The service was restored later that night.
Link: "Cut cable severs Time Warner service"
News & Observer
UF Accident #5752
Raleigh, NC 07/28/2008
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Gas
UPDATE: One of the victims of the May 16 natural gas line explosion in McKinney died after suffering severe burns to half her body. The 77-year-old woman spent more than two months in the hospital following the explosion that destroyed the home she had lived in for more than 50 years. Two other people were also injured. They are still recovering from their burns. On May 16, workers were boring underground when they struck a gas line resulting in an explosion that destroyed two homes. A third home was damaged. Investigators turned over their case to the Collin County District Attorney's office. The DA will determine whether Atmos Energy and its contractor should face criminal charges in connection with the explosion.
Link: "McKinney gas blast victim dies in Dallas "
Texas Cable News
UF Accident #5755
McKinney, TX 07/27/2008
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Gas
Seven families were evacuated from their homes following a natural gas leak. City water department employees were replacing water valves when they accidentally hit a gas main. Firefighters and police evacuated the homes in the area and diverted traffic due to worries about a potential explosion. Residents were allowed to return to their homes about two hours later.
Link: "Gas leak in Killeen forces evacuations "
WCEN TV
UF Accident #5749
Killeen, TX 07/25/2008
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Gas
West Chester officials detoured traffic in a two-block radius of a large gas main break. The break occurred around 10:45 a.m. when water department workers ruptured an 8-inch gas main during routine water line maintenance.
Link: "Gas main break prompts evac in West Chester"
WPVI
UF Accident #5750
Chester, PA 07/25/2008
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Gas
Emergency responders closed a portion of a local street for 30 minutes on after a natural-gas pipe ruptured at a local store that sells gasoline. Workers from Carolina Energies were digging around the gasoline tanks in an effort to remove them when they accidentally hit the natural-gas line. Fire officials closed the nearby street to isolate the area and reduce the chances of igniting the gas. The store had stopped selling gasoline June 24 due to a new state law that requires an upgrade on monitors in gasoline tanks.
Carolina Energies had just started digging for the tanks. The store owner said the gas pipe's location was not properly marked, resulting in the accidental rupture.
Link: "Gas pipe rupture closes Burkemont Avenue"
Morganton News Herald
UF Accident #5748
Morganton, NC 07/23/2008
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Gas
A gas main break shut down traffic for nearly an hour. Contractors working on the road near a local shopping mall struck a 2-inch, high-pressure gas line. The roadwork is part of $750,000 in improvements by mall contractors. The gas break prompted workers to phone 911 at 8:10 a.m. Police said the stench of natural gas wafted into the air, but presented no danger. Police officers quickly shut down the roadway near the accident. A National Grid spokesman said his company received a call about the main break around 8:30 a.m. The line was ruled off and safe at 9 a.m. with no disruption of service to any customers, he said. According to the gas company spokesman, the punctured line was a "stub" and did not link to any building. Rather, the line sits ready to be connected for future development. National Grid has had numerous gas line incidents in the area because of construction, he said. The gas company has an active Dig Safe notice on the gas lines, he said.
Link: "Gas main break shuts road near mall for one hour "
The Salem News
UF Accident #5739
Peabody, MA 07/23/2008
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Comm
Telephone and internet service was disrupted for nearly three hours in parts of Springfield and Redbank Plains after a Telstra fiber optic cable has been cut by by a road crew building a road at Bellbird Park. A construction team performing a road widening project cut the cable. A Telstra crew determined that two cables were severed in the incident. They worked to reroute the damaged cables which were the main connection between the Woolloongabba and the Ipswich region. A Telstra spokeswoman said the incident was not recorded on the company’s major disruptions site and said cutting the fiber optic cable had not caused widespread interference with phones and internet services.
Link: "Telstra cable cut near Ipswich"
Brisbane Times
UF Accident #5737
Ipswich, Queensland 07/23/2008
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Gas
Residents in four homes and workers in two nearby office buildings were evacuated following a ruptured gas line. Contractors were working in the street near the buildings when they struck a high pressured gas line. The evacuations were done as a precaution. Equitable Gas crews were called in to fix the leak.
Link: "Contractor Strikes Gas Line In McKeesport"
KDKA
UF Accident #5740
McKeesport, PA 07/23/2008
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Gas
A local high school was evacuated as a precautionary measure after workers putting in street lamps at the rear of the school property struck a gas line. Police and firefighters were not notified about the leaking gas. The school was evacuated as a precaution. Gas service was not disrupted in the area.
Link: "Gas leak prompts school evacuation in Edison"
myCentralJersey.com
UF Accident #5741
Edison, NJ 07/23/2008
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Gas
About 30 people were evacuated from a church where construction workers ruptured a 2-inch gas line just after noon. An expansion is under way at the church, with new construction near the west side of the building. The line was ruptured when a construction worker with a backhoe hit it, reportedly as workers prepared to install phone lines in the dig area. The construction company performing the work called in for a locater service before beginning the dig, but it is not clear if the location was properly reported, a fire official said. The break of the main line to the church caused a gas leak that lasted nearly an hour and forced partial closure of a nearby intersection. Firefighters from the Castle Rock Fire and Rescue department responded to the report of a line rupture at 12:15 p.m. and immediately secured the area. Northbound, eastbound and westbound traffic at the heavily travelled intersection was limited while firefighters awaited the arrival of gas company employees. According to a witness at the scene, the deafening sound of gas escaping the line filled the air, similar to the sound of a hot air balloon at full force. A heavy wind forced the escaping gas toward the west. Firefighters limited access to the east side of the gas break. Employees from the gas company arrived within 40 minutes of the line rupture and donned protective gear as they prepared to clamp the line. Repairmen from the gas company used shovels to gain access to the line, which was buried about four feet deep. According to a fire official, the gas company has one hour from the time of the call to have a line repaired. In this case the line was capped off within the prescribed time limit. The gas was shut off about 10 minutes after employees began repair work. Firefighters remained on site until the church was completely ventilated.
Link: "Construction workers break gas line"
Douglas County News-Press
UF Accident #5746
Castle Rock, CO 07/23/2008
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Gas
Guests at a local resort were evacuated after a gas line was ruptured. A contractor ruptured a 4-inch gas line during construction of the resort’s new addition. Approximately 90 people had to be evacuated from one wing of the facility for just over two hours. There were no injuries caused by the accident.
Link: "Gas Rupture Briefly Shuts Down Popular Resort"
WSPA
UF Accident #5744
Asheville, NC 07/23/2008
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Gas
Frisco firefighters evacuated two homes after a construction crew working for Verizon struck a gas line while boring underground. Officials found that some of the gas had leaked into the sewer system of the two homes and asked the residents to leave as a precautionary measure. A few other residents on the street chose to leave the neighborhood. The residents were allowed to return soon after firefighters determined there was no danger. Roads leading to the neighborhood were also temporarily closed.
Link: "Homes evacuated after gas line struck"
Frisco Enterprise
UF Accident #5745
Frisco, TX 07/23/2008
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Gas
Residents in parts of north-central Montana were left without telecommunications service for more than two hours after a cable was cut. According to Triangle Communications, a contractor cut a fiber optic cable at about 3 p.m. near Fort Benton, causing reduced long distance, toll free, wireless and internet capabilities in north-central Montana. Enhanced 911 service in some areas was also affected. Various telecommunications companies use the cable to transport voice and data services. Qwest is one of the companies that leases the telecommunications cable. Qwest officials said service was disrupted to some customers in Havre and Lewistown.
Link: "Phone service disrupted again"
Havre Daily News
UF Accident #5751
Fort Benton, MT 07/23/2008
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Gas
A broken natural gas line forced authorities to shutdown a street in an industrial park. The line was ruptured by workers digging a hole for a new power pole. Questar crews arrived and clamped off the broken line while repairs were made.
Link: "Natural Gas Line Broke"
KCSG
UF Accident #5731
St. George, UT 07/21/2008
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Gas
A main road was shut down in both directions just before rush and voluntary evacuations ensued after a construction crew cut into a 4-inch gas main.
Link: "Coit Road shut down at Campbell in Richardson after crew cuts gas main "
DallasNews.com
UF Accident #5733
Richardson, TX 07/21/2008
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Gas
Construction workers using a backhoe punctured an underground natural gas main feeding the business area. The gas line break lead to the closure of a local road. The rupture of the 8-inch, high-pressure line occurred at a construction site where a hotel once stood.
Link: "Workers hit Carson gas main"
dailybreeze.com
UF Accident #5732
Carson, CA 07/21/2008
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Power
More than 2,000 homes and business across were without power after an underground cable was damaged. An underground boring machine struck the 33,000 volt cable. The power was restored within 30 minutes.
Link: "Underground cable damage leaves parts of Mackay without power"
ABC Tropical North Queensland
UF Accident #5730
Mackay, Queensland 07/20/2008
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Gas
Downtown streets were closed for most of the day and the lower level of a hotel was partially evacuated after both a gas line was ruptured. City crews accidentally cut a gas main, causing the problem. An apparently unrelated water main leak that happened the earlier in the day compounded the problems in the busy midtown area.
Link: "Gas Leak Creates Traffic Headaches At Busy Midtown Intersection"
CityNews.com
UF Accident #5728
Toronto, Ontario 07/18/2008
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Gas
Homes and businesses within a two block radius of a water main rupture lost service for most of the afternoon. A construction crew ruptured a 24-inch water main. About 430 water customers, including the hospital, initially suffered disruption of their water service.
Link: "East Side water to be restored soon"
Connecticut Post
UF Accident #5727
Bridgeport, CT 07/18/2008
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Gas
A local business was evacuated and a local highway shut down for 30 minutes following a ruptured gas main. A contractor doing road work inadvertently struck the high-pressure, 4-inch line. Firefighters had the air-conditioning system business turned off to ensure that the escaping gas was not picked up by the ventilation system and pumped into the building.
Link: "Gas line rip empties school, shuts Tonnelle"
The Jersey Journal
UF Accident #5721
North Bergen, NJ 07/16/2008
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Gas
A local street was sealed off and homes evacuated after a high-pressure gas pipe was severed. Workers installing new water mains accidentally cut the gas pipe. The fire brigade evacuated about 10 residents from nearby homes.
Link: "Gas leak shuts city street "
Geelong Advertiser
UF Accident #5720
Geelong, Victoria 07/15/2008
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Gas
One home was evacuated and other homeowners put on standby after a natural gas rupture. The gas line also closed an intersection for nearly six hours. The break was caused by construction in the area by a private contractor.
Link: "Gas main rupture at Anthony, Pettit"
Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette
UF Accident #5725
Fort Wayne, IN 07/15/2008
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Gas
Home owners were evacuated from 25 homes in the area following a natural gas leak. A contractor hit a 6-inch gas line. The all clear has been given for a few dozen homeowners in Arlington after a morning gas leak.
Link: "Morning Gas Leak in Arlington"
WOKV
UF Accident #5707
Arlington, FL 07/14/2008
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Comm
Residents in many areas around Billings were without essential phone service for much of the day when construction crews cut a major fiber optic line. The breech cut 911 services to nine surrounding communities. It also affected Internet and long distance services. Officials with Qwest said an electrical company doing work in the area sliced the cable. They said the cable was buried at least 36 inches under the ground and the area was marked to indicate that there was a cable there.
Link: "Phone Lines Cut"
KULR8.com
UF Accident #5719
Billings, MT 07/14/2008
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Gas
Construction workers were temporarily evacuated at the site of a condominium development when an excavator operator accidentally struck a gas line. No injuries were reported and neighboring homes and businesses were not evacuated.
Link: "Excavator operator strikes gas line at Vancouver job site "
Journal of Commerce
UF Accident #5723
Vancouver, BC 07/14/2008
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Gas
About 75 people were evacuated from area stores and businesses after a gas line was ruptured. According to officials, a road construction crew using a backhoe pulled up a 2-inch gas line. The incident occurred at 10 a.m. and the line was clamped by 11:45 p.m., fire officials said. The accident is under investigation to see if the third-party contractor was called before they started digging. According to public information officials with CenterPoint Energy, the company will seek to recover damages if no locate request was made.
Link: "Gas line break causes evacuations "
Columbia Progress
UF Accident #5724
Columbia, MS 07/14/2008
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Gas
A construction crew working at a local campus broke one of the city’s main water distribution lines. A worker was completing grading work for the new fields when he broke the city's main distribution line to the South Reservoir. The break caused a sudden pressure and water loss through much of the 6,000 pressure zone leaving many people without water. The break spawned four other breaks, likely caused by pressure spikes associated with high water velocities from the initial break. In all, the system lost about 1 million gallons of water. According to reports, the line had been properly located prior to construction.
Link: "Water main breaks in Golden "
yourhub.com
UF Accident #5715
Golden, CO 07/13/2008
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Gas
Emergency crews evacuated nearly 100 people from their homes after a backhoe operator working on a construction site cut a natural gas line. Traffic was also blocked in the surrounding area. Originally, crews believed a 12-inch mainline had been struck, but they later discovered it was a three-inch line with a 12-inch attachment.
Link: "Gas leak leads to evacuation"
Edmonton Sun
UF Accident #5714
Alberta 07/12/2008
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Comm
Workers digging a water line severed a cable television line knocking out service to 7,000 customers for almost nine hours. A main trunk line containing 96 individual fiber-optic lines was severed by a utility crew digging in the area. According to officials there wasn't a mark indicating the 2-inch cable TV line was underground. Some of the individual fiber-optic lines were cut by a backhoe.
Link: "Water crew cuts TV cable"
Monterey Herald
UF Accident #5711
Pebble Beach, CA 07/11/2008
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Gas
Residents were forced to evacuate as crews rushed to repair a gas leak. Construction crews working to repair a sidewalk struck the gas line. Gas seeped into a home, forcing crews to evacuate 12 homes as a precaution. Two streets were blocked as Columbia Gas repaired the leak.
Link: "Residents evacuated for gas leak"
WHP TV
UF Accident #5708
York, PA 07/10/2008
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Gas
Several residents were ordered to remain in their homes following a gas leak. Private contractors working for Atlanta Gas struck a 4-inch main that was buried around four feet deep. Fire crews arrived at the scene to find that the break was “slightly blowing” natural gas, creating a dangerous situation for the neighborhood. Fire fighters went door-to-door asking residents to stay inside.
Link: "Gas Leak Leaves N. Rome Residents Confined"
Rome News Wire
UF Accident #5709
Rome, GA 07/10/2008
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Gas
Construction workers hit a water service line one day and punctured a gas line the next day while performing road work in the area. Some Malone Street residents have been concerned about the excavation as three utility lines have been hit in the past two days. On Thursday, crews hit a water service line. They also punched a gas line not far from Friday’s water main break. A construction company spokesman said workers hit the gas line that was four inches into the dirt. The crew had removed six inches of pavement and subsurface to repack the dirt below when they hit the gas line. Before digging, they had located the gas line and been told it was 22 inches below ground at the curb. Mindful of the problems created by similar road reconstruction in McKinney, where two houses exploded and three people were injured in May, a local homeowner said she didn’t hesitate to call 911 when she saw crews standing around the ruptured gas line two houses away from her own. The next day, workers hit a water main about a foot below the surface of the road. Residents were without water for about two hours as city crews made repairs. Like the shallow gas line, the water main was installed high compared to where current lines are put in, according to a city water department employee. Both lines were repaired without incident.
Link: "Untility Line Snarls Workers"
Denton Record-Chronicle
UF Accident #5710
Pittsburg, KS 07/10/2008
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Gas
A digger fractured a major gas main just 200 yards from a railway station, forcing everyone within a 100-metre radius to be evacuated. A contractor performing regeneration work broke through the 9-inch gas main. A about a dozen of houses and nearby shops were forced to evacuate. Four fire engines attended the scene, as well as police and traffic wardens who diverted traffic and pedestrians away from the area.
Link: "Residents flee as gas main breaks"
South Wales Echo
UF Accident #5712
South Wales 07/10/2008
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Gas
More than 50 people were evacuated following a ruptured gas main. An excavating contractor split a gas line, pulling one side of it straight up out of the ground. Traffic in the area was also diverted away from the accident. The gas was shut off within approximately one hour of the contractor calling 911, and firefighters measured the buildings with combustible gas meters before allowing the occupants to return.
Link: "50 evacuated after gas leak"
The Concord Journal
UF Accident #5702
Concord, MA 07/09/2008
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Gas
More than a dozen homes were evacuated after a large gas line ruptured. A construction worker accidentally busted a 6-inch gas pipeline. No one was been injured.
Link: "Gas leak forces evacuations in South Seattle"
KOMO News
UF Accident #5703
Seattle, WA 07/09/2008
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Gas
A local road was closed for more than two hours due to a gas main leak. Construction workers severed a 6-inch gas main in half while doing excavation work. Minutes later, workers ruptured a 2-inch gas line about 600 yards north of the first one.
Link: "Road reopens after gas leak at Lake Lanier Islands"
AccessNorthGA.com
UF Accident #5701
Lake Lanier, GA 07/09/2008
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Gas
A natural gas leak forced the evacuation of a juvenile court building. Workers excavating outside a nearby parking garage hit a gas line.
Link: "Gas line cut, Chesapeake juvenile court building evacuated"
The Viginian-Pilot
UF Accident #5700
Chesapeake, VA 07/09/2008
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Comm
Many residents were without certain means of communication after a contractor working near a fiber transport cable miscalculated and severed the Triangle Communications-owned line. The services affected included long distance capabilities, toll-free calling, and wireless and Internet capabilities, as well as online banking services.
Link: "Fiber cut causes communication problems for many Montanans"
Great Falls Tribune
UF Accident #5705
Great Falls, MT 07/09/2008
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Gas
About 50 people were evacuated from an apartment building after a piece of excavating equipment hit a gas line, releasing high levels of natural gas vapors. The crews were digging up curbs slated for replacement when the equipment severed a gas supply line. Calgary firefighters ordered the evacuation of one block within the rupture. About 250 people live in the apartments on the block, but only 50 were home at the time. Firefighters, wearing protective gear, had to enter apartments to close windows to prevent the high winds from spreading the vapors. Residents were allowed to return to their homes after about three hours. No injuries were reported.
Link: "Evacuation ordered after gas line severed"
CBC News
UF Accident #5706
Calgary, Ontario 07/09/2008
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Gas
Traffic was diverted from a nearby street for about 90 minutes after a gas line was ruptured. Road workers struck the main while performing curbing work. A fire official said the road had been marked in advance to indicate the location of underground utilities.
Link: "Main Road traffic diverted after gas line break"
DailyJournal.com
UF Accident #5691
Vineland, NJ 07/08/2008
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Gas
Four homes were evacuated for an hour as a precaution after a gas line was ruptured. A private contracting company working at a new home construction site was bringing the yard to grade with a backhoe when the gas line break occurred.
Link: "Gas line ruptures at construction site"
Staunton News Leader
UF Accident #5692
Staunton, VA 07/08/2008
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Gas
Area streets were closed to traffic and pedestrians after a natural gas line was ruptured. An excavator that was digging at the intersection struck the line.
Link: "Gas line struck near 3rd Ave., 14th St. SE"
Gazette Online
UF Accident #5693
Cedar Rapids, IA 07/08/2008
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Gas
A cable worker was injured when a torch he was using to repair an underground cable ignited a nearby gas line. The cable workers were finishing a repair job when the flash fire occurred. The gas line continued to burn as firefighters waited for an emergency crew from Lawrenceville Gas to repair it. Four homes in the immediate area were evacuated as a precaution.
Link: "Worker"
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UF Accident #5695
Lawrenceville, GA 07/08/2008
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Gas
A construction crew sliced through a 16-inch natural gas while were repairing concrete in front of a warehouse at an industrial area. Several roads in the area were closed, but there were no evacuations.
Link: "Construction Crews Cut Gas Line in West Dallas"
KDAF-TV 33
UF Accident #5697
West Dallas, TX 07/08/2008
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Gas
Several people were evacuated from their homes after a road construction crew ruptured r an underground natural gas distribution pipe. The 2-inch pipe was about three feet in the ground. Workers hit the line with heavy equipment while installing a new catch basin. The contractor installing sewer lines and catch basin had checked the location of the pipeline before beginning work, officials said.
Link: "Gas line ruptured in Riverview"
Times & Transcript
UF Accident #5696
Riverview, New Brunswick 07/08/2008
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Gas
A local shopping center was evacuated after a construction crew digging a new water line for a sprinkler system hits a 2-inch gas line. No one was hurt in the incident.
Link: "Gas Line Break Behind Delmonico"
WTEN
UF Accident #5698
Colonie, NY 07/08/2008
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Gas
Fruita city crews cut an unmarked gas line while performing work in the area. Employees from several businesses in the area were asked to leave the scene as a precaution. No one has been injured and the crews are getting the line fixed as soon as possible.
Link: "Gas leak in Fruita prompts evacuations"
KJCT 8
UF Accident #5713
Fruita, CO 07/08/2008
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Gas
A contractor using a backhoe hit a six-inch gas line. Traffic in the area was detoured during repairs.
Link: "Gas line ruptures in Antioch"
Contra Costa Times
UF Accident #5684
Antioch, CA 07/07/2008
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Gas
Eight blocks of a local avenue were shut for about two hours after a road construction crew's backhoe cut into a main natural gas line. A worker using a backhoe to dig trenches for a new intersection cut into the gas line. Police officers, fire fighters and workers with Cascade Natural Gas responded to the accident. Pacific Power crews were also called in, just in case of ignition, as the gas leak was directly underneath power lines. Traffic near the accident was diverted during the repairs affecting rush hour traffic. While no evacuations were ordered, police notified the one house closest to the gas leak and it occupants turned off their pilot light and voluntarily left their home.
Link: "Redmond"
KTVZ.com
UF Accident #5685
Redmond, OR 07/07/2008
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Gas
A contractor for Pennsylvania American Water Company damaged a three-inch gas main while putting in a new water main. Both UGI and the local fire department responded to the accident, but no one was evacuated. The road where the line was ruptured remained closed overnight for repairs.
Link: "W-B street closed for damaged gas main "
The Citizen
UF Accident #5686
Wilkes-Barre, PA 07/07/2008
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Gas
Approximately 30 residents were asked to voluntary evacuate their homes following a gas leak. Officials said a Verizon subcontractor hit a gas main while working in the area. Tampa police shut down and evacuated a four block area. Several residents who chose not to leave were asked to remain inside for their safety. Tampa’s hazmat team also responded and secured the scene just in case the gas ignited. Nearby streets were also closed. Repairs to the line by TECO’s People’s Gas were slowed by lightning from storms that evening. No one was injured as a result of the accident.
Link: "Leak Capped, Homeowners Return"
The Tampa Tribune
UF Accident #5687
Plant City, FL 07/07/2008
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Gas
At least 50 people were evacuated after a gas line ruptured under a local boulevard. A private construction firm was working on a sewer line replacement when workers hit the gas line with a backhoe. According to a gas company spokesman, the lines had been marked correctly. A construction supervisor said the incident was an accident with the backhoe missing its mark. The Pasadena Police Department and Fire Department evacuated residents and businesses for about two hours and cordoned off blocks north and south of the accident for almost four hours.
Link: "Gas leak prompts clearing of area "
Pasadena Star-News
UF Accident #5688
Pasadena, CA 07/07/2008
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Comm
More than 2,000 homes and businesses lost telecommunication service after a contractor putting in new lines cut through two underground telephone cables. Hundreds of Verizon customers remained without phone service for several days. Officials said Verizon will file a claim against the contractor blamed for the problem.
Link: "Hundreds Still Without Phone Service"
WNEP
UF Accident #5699
Luzerne County, PA 07/03/2008
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Gas
A main road was shut down briefly and eight people evacuated after construction workers hit a gas line. A construction crew was installing conduit for a water line in the area when it hit a service line that leads to a nearby restaurant.
Link: "16th Street Jack in the Box closed briefly due to gas leak"
Yuma Sun
UF Accident #5676
Yuma, AZ 07/02/2008
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Gas
Students and faculty from a local college campus were evacuated and evening classes cancelled as gas hissed from a ruptured line near a construction site. A construction crew was digging as part of a $5 million project to build a technology center on the campus when they hit the line.
Link: "Gas line break leads to evacuation at Clarkson"
Watertown Daily Times
UF Accident #5679
Potsdam, NY 07/02/2008
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Gas
A ruptured gas line forced a temporary evacuation of a local shopping center. A work crew was replacing a water line when it hit the gas line.
Link: "Gas Line Ruptures At Murrysville Shopping Center"
WTAE-TV
UF Accident #5673
Murrysville, PA 07/01/2008
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Gas
No one was injured after a city crew a hit to a gas line while replacing a fire hydrant. Workers were digging in the area when a chunk of dirt fell on an exposed pipe and broke it.
Link: "No damage after gas line break"
The Fergus Falls Daily Journal
UF Accident #5678
Fergus Falls, MN 07/01/2008
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Gas
Two local streets were shut down in the area because of a gas main break. Nearly 50 employees and shoppers from an area grocery store were also evacuated for a couple of hours. Contractors installing a water main hit the gas line.
Link: "Gas Main Hit In Milwaukee"
WISN.com
UF Accident #5680
Milwaukee, WI 07/01/2008
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Gas
Dozens of residents were evacuated in their homes after a construction crew hit a gas main. A Cincinnati Water Works employee hit a four-inch main.
Link: "Broken Gas Main Forces Evacuations On West Side"
WLWT 5
UF Accident #5681
Cinicinnati, OH 07/01/2008
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Gas
Several hundred Indiana Michigan Power customers were without electricity after construction workers putting in a new road broke through a two-inch plastic natural gas line. The ruptured gas line also complicated travel on the city’s southwest side. The lines had been marked, according to a city spokeswoman, but were closer to the surface than expected. Local businesses were also evacuated for about five hours.
Link: "Gas leak snarls Jefferson traffic"
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
UF Accident #5674
Fort Wayne, IN 06/30/2008
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Gas
Three homes were evacuated and residents of two assisted living facilities were asked to stay inside after a gas line was ruptured. Workers replacing a gas line accidentally split a 10-inch main.
Link: "Ruptured Gas Line Gives a Scare"
KIII TV
UF Accident #5677
Corpus Christi, TX 06/30/2008
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Water
Two buildings on Mount Union College campus flooded when a construction crew ruptured a municipal water main while working on a campus renovation and expansion project. The college’s Peterson Field House and the adjacent Timken Physical Education Building were hit with a muddy mess. The area is the site of a $14 million renovation and expansion project for the college’s athletic facilities. The contractor was using a hydraulic jack attached to a backhoe when he cracked the 12-inch municipal water main. According to a worker with the construction company, they knew the line was there, but did not know how deep it was. Some customers near the campus were without water for most of the day while repairs were made. Campus officials said there was enough damage to the lower level locker rooms that they would need to hire a restoration cleanup company. In addition, athletic equipment in the other building sustained water damage.
Link: "Mount Union College buildings flood after water main cracks"
Canton Repository
UF Accident #5683
Alliance, OH 06/30/2008
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Gas
About 40 students were sent home early after a construction crew hit a small gas main. Three homes in the area also were temporarily evacuated after a Chicago Water Management Department crew broke the gas main.
Link: "West Side gas-main break sends pupils home"
Chicago Tribune
UF Accident #5666
Chicago, IL 06/27/2008
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Gas
A gas leak shut down several downtown restaurants during the busy lunch rush. A local street was also closed for at least two hours after construction workers in the area punctured the line which runs through a concrete manhole sewer access.
Link: "Gas Leak Shuts Down Several Downtown Orlando Businesses"
WFTV.com
UF Accident #5667
Orlando, FL 06/27/2008
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Water
A work site and nearby roadway were flooded after a worker burst a main water pipe. The worker caught the main pipe with a digger. Although it did not directly affect the traffic, it did leave motorists slowing down to drive through the floods.
Link: "Water main burst by workmen"
Burton Mail
UF Accident #5648
Burton on Trent, England 06/27/2008
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Gas
Four businesses were evacuated following a ruptured natural gas line. Contractors accidentally cut through a two inch natural gas line in front of the businesses.
Link: "NYSEG and Vestal Fire Dept Respond to Gas Break on Parkway"
WBNG 12
UF Accident #5672
Vestal, NY 06/27/2008
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Gas
Nearly 40 students attending a summer school program were sent home early after a construction crew hit a small gas main on the city’s west side. Three homes in the area also were temporarily evacuated after a Chicago Water Management Department crew broke the gas main, according to a spokeswoman for Peoples Energy Corp. The leak was stopped after about 20 minutes, and the line was being repaired.
Link: "West Side gas-main break sends pupils home"
Chicago Tribune
UF Accident #5736
Chicago, IL 06/27/2008
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Gas
Nearly 30 residents were asked to voluntary evacuate their homes along a two-block radius following a gas leak. Officials said a Verizon subcontractor hit a gas main while working in the area. Nearby streets were also closed.
Link: "Gas leak forces evacuations "
MyFox Tampa Bay
UF Accident #5669
Tampa, FL 06/26/2008
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Gas
Residents from two condominiums were evacuated and a street closed following a gas line break. A construction company was digging for fiber optic lines and conduit for the city when it dug too deep. It took around three hours to fix the gas line.
Link: "Gas Line Break Forces Evacuations in Marion"
KCRG
UF Accident #5664
Marion, IA 06/25/2008
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Gas
A fire caused by a ruptured gas line sent two people to the hospital. An intersection was also closed for most of the day following the accident. A construction crew was working alongside the street using a backhoe when it struck the natural gas line and caught fire. Two workers were injured and are being treated for first- and second-degree burns to their arms, chest, neck and face. A fire official said when the line was hit, it apparently created a spark and the gas ignited.
Link: "Flaming Gas Leak"
nbc4i.com
UF Accident #5668
Columbus, OH 06/25/2008
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Gas
Twelve people were evacuated from their homes after a private contractor struck a gas line. The workers were boring underneath the street when they struck an 8-inch line. Firefighters responded to the scene where they evacuated homes within a one and a half blocks of the accident for precautionary reasons. Traffic was also diverted from two nearby streets. Repair crews inspected the water and sewer systems to make sure that gas did not leak into them.
Link: "Residents evacuated; gas leak continues "
Sioux City Journal
UF Accident #5662
Sioux City, IA 06/25/2008
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Gas
Sections of a local hospital were closed for more than two hours following a natural gas leak. Just after 8 a.m., firefighters discovered a 2-inch natural gas line had been severed by heavy equipment at the construction site for a new parking garage. The incident prompted a procedural shutdown of all operating rooms and the closing of two streets leading to the hospital. Firefighters used gas monitoring equipment to investigate the report and found no natural gas inside the hospital. The operating rooms reopened a short time later. After digging up a section of the road to access the severed line, Ameren UE crews were able to stop the leak.
Link: "Severed natural gas line closes hospital operating rooms "
Columbia Tribune
UF Accident #5647
Columbia, MO 06/25/2008
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Comm
Many customers lost telephone and computer service after a third-party contractor working on a streetscape project cut phone lines shortly after 12:30 p.m. Emergency fire and police calls were re-routed through the a neighboring communications center while the lines were repaired.
Link: "Phone service is restored for Harwood Heights "
Norridge Harwood Heights News
UF Accident #5646
Harwood Heights, IL 06/24/2008
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Gas
Six people were evacuated from their homes after a gas leak. A construction crew was working on phone lines in an area marked safe for digging when they hit a 3-inch gas line, officials said. Officials shut off electricity to 10 homes in the immediate area. Police also blocked off a nearby road while hazardous materials crews were conducting tests on the air in the area. According to city officials, this is the second gas leak reported on this day. Earlier, residents in another section of town were evacuated after a 6-inch gas line was ruptured during construction work.
Link: "6 evacuated after gas leak on McFerrin"
WacoTrib.com
UF Accident #5650
Waco, TX 06/24/2008
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Gas
Nearly 200 patients and employees were evacuated from a local clinic as gas hissed from a ruptured line on a construction site. The broken gas line caused a rush-hour traffic jam for people streaming into downtown. Construction workers for a $506 million building project broke a two-inch line.
Link: "Ruptured gas line triggers evacuation of 200 people at Cleveland Clinic, nearby buildings"
The Plain Dealer
UF Accident #5655
Cleveland, OH 06/24/2008
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Gas
Residents were temporarily evacuated following a natural gas leak. Workers using a post-hole digger cut a gas line. Police also halted car traffic in the area until firefighters and gas company officials had the leak under control.
Link: "Firefighters respond to gas leak at Lake Davidson Park"
DavidsonNews.net
UF Accident #5663
Davidson, NC 06/23/2008
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Gas
A broken gas line shut down the town for several hours as crews from the gas company and fire department struggled to fix the rupture. A construction crew digging in the center of town uncovered a large steel pipe. When they moved their equipment to avoid the pipe, they ended up hitting another pipe severing a smaller pipe connected to the gas main. Ten homes and several businesses within a 300 foot radius of the area were evacuated for more than six hours.
Link: "Gas line rupture shuts down Frazier Park"
Bakersfield Now
UF Accident #5649
Frazier Park, CA 06/23/2008
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Power
Nearly 900 residential and business customers lost power after a contractor dug into an underground cable.
Link: "Power Outage Affects 900 Town Of Middleton Residents"
Channel 3000
UF Accident #5652
Middleton, WI 06/23/2008
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Gas
Several homes were evacuated for more than an hour after a contractor mistakenly struck a natural gas service line. The contractor struck a single home service line while digging in a yard and caused a leak.
Link: "Delmont homes evacuated after gas line struck "
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
UF Accident #5653
Delmont, PA 06/23/2008
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Gas
A portion of a local street was closed for about two hours after a work crew struck and ruptured a natural gas line. The workers, contracted by Verizon, were digging in the area to relocate cables to make way for an upcoming road-widening project. The crew had called to make sure there were no gas pipes in the area prior to starting, but workers struck a two-inch metal gas pipe that had been unmarked, said a Verizon spokesman. When they realized they had hit the pipe, the workers immediately contacted the police and fire departments to report the gas leak. Police cordoned off the area while a crew from NIPSCO worked to repair the pipe. Police determined that evacuations were not necessary.
Link: "Gas leak, fix close Ardmore"
Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette
UF Accident #5654
Fort Wayne, IN 06/23/2008
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Gas
Nearly 100 people were evacuated and a road shut down following a ruptured gas line. Contractors doing trenching work on private property punctured a mid- to high-pressure gas main, sending fumes into the atmospheres. Officials are investigating if the line was properly marked.
Link: "Gas leak causes evacuations"
Concord Journal
UF Accident #5671
Concord, MA 06/23/2008
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Gas
About 150 people were evacuated from two shopping malls after a construction accident sent natural gas into the air and into sanitary and storm sewers. A utility contractor was boring to install a fiber optic line when he hit the gas line at 6:15 p.m. A fire official said the biggest problem was in the sanitary and storm drains where the buildup of gas reached explosive range. Fire officials ventilated the storm drain and called in city wastewater personnel to ventilate the sanitary sewer. Crews pushed air into the lines with a fan to bring them below the explosive range of five to 15 percent. Officials said the area had been marked prior to excavation; however, this particular line did not appear to have been properly marked. Most affected stores and restaurants were allowed to reopen about 9 p.m.
Link: "Gas leak causes evacuations along Division Street"
St. Cloud Times
UF Accident #5661
St. Cloud, MN 06/23/2008
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Gas
Several residents were evacuated following a natural gas leak. City workers were repairing a water line when they accidentally cut a gas line.
Link: "Gas Leak Forces Residents To Be Evacuated "
WMDT
UF Accident #5670
Ocean City, MD 06/21/2008
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