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CHAPTER 7 Tactical Response Guidelines for Pipeline Emergencies Summary of Action Taken
After conferring with the deputy sheriff, the fire department company officer established an Incident Command Post (ICP) a significant distance up wind from their original location. Based on the close proximity of homes and the impact zone, the fire department com- pany officer and the deputy sheriff de- cided to call for additional resources. Two additional engine companies and a ladder truck were called in. Additional law enforcement officers were requested to control traffic into the area.
With full protective clothing and Figure 7.10
SCBA, fire department personnel used a calibrated “four gas” meter (i.e., combi- nation meter with CGI/oxygen/carbon monoxide/hydrogen sulfide sensors) to determine that the strongest concentra- tion of gas was in the area closest to where the postal truck was parked. The
flammable reading at this location was 5% of the lower explosive limit (LEL). Based on this reading, the decision was made to evacuate homes in the im- mediate area and wait for the arrival of the gas company.
Upon arrival of the gas company, the IC and the deputy sheriff formed a
Unified Command organization. Working with the fire department, the gas company entered the area and took additional readings to confirm the previ- ous CGI readings taken by the fire department. By taking multiple readings using a grid search pattern, it was determined that the concentration of gas was highest in front of a home located on 114 Maple Street. Utility maps were consulted on the gas company’s on-board laptop computer and it was deter- mined that a 2-inch PVC natural gas pipeline ran down Maple Street parallel to a buried underground electrical power line. It was further determined that the power line was buried approximately 12-inches from the gas pipeline.
The fire department IC determined that the best course of action was to
maintain the isolation perimeter, expand the area of evacuation as a precau- tion, and stand by while the gas company isolated the pipeline. The sheriff’s department coordinated traffic control and helped maintain the perimeter. Meanwhile, the gas company took steps to isolate the pipeline above and below the pipeline feeding Maple Street. As an additional precaution, the gas company contacted the electric power company and requested assistance at the incident scene. Through the power company dispatcher, it was deter- mined that the same area recently experienced a power failure and crews were enroute to determine the problem.
With the electricity and gas pipeline isolated, gas company personnel ex-
cavated the gas line along Maple Street while the fire department stood by with fully-charged hoselines. With ignition sources isolated, firefighters, gas
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