Commercial Gas Leak - California

[G1G4]

Shoppers Food Warehouse. Employees advised 'in the hallway'

1846; 32 on the scene, dropping a split lay at the second entrance to Shoppers.
1847; 32 advises the building hasn't been evacuated
1847; Getting ready to alert the box for Calvert.
1848; Fireboard advises the box assignment was 'messed up.'
1849; 32 advises a strong odor to the rear of Shoppers
1849; Dropping the box now mutual aide to Calvert -- Solomons Landing for the apartment fire
1850; 92 taking a plug to the rear of the store.
1850; Holding the assignment as is, still doing business as usual inside the store
1851; Manager is evacuating the building. Gas meters reading nothing.
1852; Hydrant the original lay was laid into is OOS.
1852; 32 found the leak. Advises they can hear it hissing in the hallway.
1853; 32 advises an actual pipe is busted. Shutting gas off to the entire building.
1853; With the exception of Tower 9 (driver only), entire assignment is on scene
1855; Calvert assignment was placed in service.
1855; Chief 3 advises they're going to secure the gas to the building, remeter the building and then advise further
1856; Adjacent buildings are clear of gas.
1857; Gas is secured
1901; Safety 9 advises the situation was mitigated. Holding 3 & 9 only.

 

[workaholic]

What was the deal with the fire at Solomons Landing? I know a few people over there.

Back when I was running we had an entire building go off over there. We were there for ever. Ended up evacuating us and just doing and outside attack on it. Total Loss. This was probably 10 years ago.

 

[EmptyTimCup]

Shoppers Food Warehouse. Employees advised 'in the hallway'

1852; 32 found the leak. Advises they can hear it hissing in the hallway.
1853; 32 advises an actual pipe is busted. Shutting gas off to the entire building.

1856; Adjacent buildings are clear of gas.

That could have been catastrophic ......



I haven't ever heard of a Gas Pipe (usually black iron I guess with the newer code if could be copper :shrug: ) actually busting ...

 

[G1G4]

What was the deal with the fire at Solomons Landing? I know a few people over there.

Back when I was running we had an entire building go off over there. We were there for ever. Ended up evacuating us and just doing and outside attack on it. Total Loss. This was probably 10 years ago.

I'm assuming Calvert messed the box up, because even Fireboard said it was messed up. They originally gave the address at Solomons Landing, but later changed it to Pine Tree Apartments (or something to that effect). Box was placed in service about four minutes later. Our Fireboard put it out as just an apartment on fire.

That could have been catastrophic ......



I haven't ever heard of a Gas Pipe (usually black iron I guess with the newer code if could be copper :shrug: ) actually busting ...

If I'm not mistaken, Shoppers is an older building. I'm not sure what they have running into their building, but they said the pipe was actively venting. They shut the gas off from the outside and that remedied the problem. They let it finish venting, remetered the building and went back in service after the store was restored to a safe breathing level.

 

[Baja28]

I can't believe how long it took the manager to evacuate the store!!!

 

[G1G4]

I can't believe how long it took the manager to evacuate the store!!!

It was to the rear of the store and not interfering with customers. I think FD finally wound up talking them into evacuating when they found the pipe broke. But I'm with you, store should have been evacuated when they smelled the gas and heard the venting.

 

[EmptyTimCup]

If I'm not mistaken, Shoppers is an older building. I'm not sure what they have running into their building, but they said the pipe was actively venting

From my experience doing plumbing work in DC ... (1990 - 1994)

all gas pipes are in threaded Black Iron .... except stoves and dryers, because they are moved around there was a 6 foot flex ...

but I remember seeing in Rockville ( yeah I know MD not DC) where there was 3/8 soft copper was run across the ceiling and down the to Furnace for the lest leg of connection ....

sure would save a lot of cutting the threading ....

 

[G1G4]

Like I said, no idea what they have in their store.

 

[Baja28]

It was to the rear of the store and not interfering with customers. I think FD finally wound up talking them into evacuating when they found the pipe broke. But I'm with you, store should have been evacuated when they smelled the gas and heard the venting.

I saw a gas explosion in Forestville many years ago. They were fools not to evacuate that store the second they discovered it.

 

[G1G4]

I saw a gas explosion in Forestville many years ago. They were fools not to evacuate that store the second they discovered it.

There was one earlier this year at the Penn Mar Shopping Center in PG County that wound up taking a firefighter too within an inch of his life.



Just goes to show you, your never safe -- even when you think you are.

 

[Otter]

From my experience doing plumbing work in DC ... (1990 - 1994)

all gas pipes are in threaded Black Iron .... except stoves and dryers, because they are moved around there was a 6 foot flex ...

but I remember seeing in Rockville ( yeah I know MD not DC) where there was 3/8 soft copper was run across the ceiling and down the to Furnace for the lest leg of connection ....

sure would save a lot of cutting the threading ....

Haven't been in plumbing for years, but I have seen black pipe snap under the stress of settling and such. In the 60s and 70s there was alot of badly made pipe of all flavors (copper,galvanized and black) that created havoc for plumbing companies. This type of thing will become more commonplace as the infrastructure ages in this country, IMHO.

 

[BuddyLee]

Pipe wasn't "busted".

 

[itsbob]

Pipe wasn't "busted".

You hit it with a forklift didn't you??

 

[BuddyLee]

You hit it with a forklift didn't you??

Nah, not me.

 

[sparkysgirl]

The box in Calvert was put out for a building fire at Southern Pine Apartment. Officer's got on scene and advised no fire, just smoke from food on a stove. Box was held with company 3 units only. Fairly heavy smoke from food, but no need to evacuate, no fire. Ventilation was performed and box was placed in service.

 

[Baja28]

There was one earlier this year at the Penn Mar Shopping Center in PG County that wound up taking a firefighter too within an inch of his life.



Just goes to show you, your never safe -- even when you think you are.

That was minor compared to the one I saw. Red brick apartment building on southbound rte 4. I was in the rental office and we thought a plane from Andrews had crashed into the building. Chunks of brick and furniture were raining from the sky. When we went outside, the entire end of the building was gone and we were looking into peoples apartments.

Gas from a leak had been accumulating and was finally set off. Fortunately, everyone was at work and there were no injuries. Miracle.

 

[G1G4]

Pipe wasn't "busted".

Just repeating what was said.

 

[EmptyTimCup]

Haven't been in plumbing for years, but I have seen black pipe snap under the stress of settling and such. In the 60s and 70s there was alot of badly made pipe of all flavors (copper,galvanized and black) that created havoc for plumbing companies. This type of thing will become more commonplace as the infrastructure ages in this country, IMHO.

Hmm true .... I loved the Stainless Steel pipe used for a short while in the 70s ...

I got a chance to remove a few pieces from an old remodeling job ...

 

[BuddyLee]

Just repeating what was said.

What was said was exaggerated.