Edina Fire Department Post Incident Analysis

5000 Arden Ave. House Explosion
Feb. 23, 2010

The following report summarizes the Edina Fire Department’s response to the 5000 Arden Ave. house explosion that took place on Feb. 23, 2010. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Pipeline Safety (MNOPS) will independently issue a report indicating how the gas line was ruptured and the results of its investigation.

Initial Response

At 12:36 p.m. on Feb. 23, 2010, the Edina Fire Department (EFD) was dispatched to West 50th Street and Arden Avenue in Edina after receiving a report of a ruptured natural gas line caused by directional-drilling equipment. The initial response consisted of an engine/pumper containing a crew of a Lieutenant and three Paramedic/Firefighters. CenterPoint Energy was notified of the gas line rupture. An Edina police squad was also dispatched to the scene.

EFD crews arrived on scene at 12:41 p.m. The ruptured natural gas line was located in the street in front of the property at 5000 Arden Ave. EFD crews determined that no one was home at 5000 Arden Ave. Per department directive, EFD crews positioned themselves at 50th Street and Bruce Ave, upwind of the gas leak.

EFD crews began monitoring the air and the underground storm sewer system in the area for gas. EFD crews notified occupants on Arden Avenue in the immediate vicinity of the gas leak and indicated they should leave their house if they smelled gas. The occupied homes to which EFD had access showed no signs of natural gas.

CenterPoint Energy crews arrived on scene at 12:55 p.m. CenterPoint officials advised the EFD Lieutenant that the gas was “venting” and the area was safe. CenterPoint officials also informed EFD that they were monitoring the area. No homes were evacuated based on this information received from CenterPoint Energy.

Standards for Evacuation

Residents in the vicinity of 5000 Arden Ave. were not evacuated prior to the explosion. EFD responds to numerous reported gas leaks on an annual basis (approximately 40 each year). Evacuation of nearby buildings in response to an outdoor gas leak is not standard protocol for EFD. Based on the circumstances surrounding 5000 Arden Ave. prior to the explosion, evacuation was believed to be unwarranted. This determination was based on the information provided by CenterPoint Energy officials, who at the time were unaware that natural gas was migrating underground into adjoining buildings.

EFD protocol is to contact occupants of nearby buildings to ascertain whether or not elevated gas levels are occurring and to advise occupants of the steps they should take if they detect natural gas odors. EFD does not forcibly enter unoccupied buildings unless unusual circumstances are present, such as evidence of elevated underground gas levels.

The 5000 Arden Ave. incident highlights the need for gas utility companies to closely monitor underground gas levels in the vicinity of gas leaks. In the future, a decision to evacuate nearby buildings should be based on such readings in the absence of other evidence.

Initial Response (Continued)

At 1:06 p.m., the EFD Lieutenant asked Edina Public Works crews to close off West 50th Street between Wooddale and Halifax avenues.

At 1:48 p.m., an ambulance containing two firefighter/paramedics arrived on scene. Per department directive, EFD crews remained in position upwind of the gas leak at 50th Street and Bruce Avenue to “stand by” in order to assist CenterPoint Energy as requested.

CenterPoint Energy crews detected gas in the sanitary sewers and advised EFD to remove the sanitary sewer covers in the area. The EFD Lieutenant asked City of Edina Public Works crews to remove the sanitary sewer covers. CenterPoint Energy officials advised EFD that removing the sanitary sewer covers was allowing the gas to “vent,“ and the incident was not dangerous. CenterPoint Energy advised EFD that the storm sewers were also safe as they were venting naturally.

As the incident continued and the time to repair the leak lengthened, the EFD Lieutenant requested that an additional EFD engine/pumper crew and a Chief Officer (Chief 2) respond for cautionary reasons and to assist in gas monitoring. Chief 2 and Engine 83 arrived at 2:38 pm.

Post-Explosion Response

At 2:41 p.m., the house at 5000 Arden Ave. exploded due to a buildup of natural gas from the ruptured line and an unknown ignition source. The house was completely destroyed; only a portion of the south side of the structure was initially left intact. The house at 5002 Arden Ave. sustained extensive damage; the garage was completely destroyed by the explosion.

Edina Chief 2 assumed Incident Command. EFD crews responded from Bruce Avenue and used water streams to suppress the fire and protect the house at 5002 Arden Ave. Crews allowed the gas-fueled fire to burn, as this was deemed the safest way to control the incident.

The Incident Plan was to establish a safe perimeter, stop the flow of gas to the leak, protect the exposures, monitor the area and homes for gas and allow the gas to burn off at the site of the leak. Once the gas could be shut off to the leak, the plan was to extinguish the fire, check the evacuated homes for gas and allow residents to return.

A General Alarm page for all Edina firefighters was issued at 2:43 p.m. Chief 2 requested a 2nd alarm, requesting engine crews from St. Louis Park, Richfield and Eden Prairie. No injuries were reported.

EFD crews and members of the Edina Police Department began evacuating homes within approximately a one-block radius of the explosion. Evacuees were directed to assemble at the Edina Country Club. Edina Police contacted Edina Public Schools and informed them of the evacuation and the need to redirect school buses and students.

The area of evacuation increased to approximately 1 ½ to 2 blocks, based on high gas levels being monitored in the sanitary sewer system. A 3rd Alarm was issued at 2:53 p.m., requesting HCMC ambulance service, Bloomington and Hopkins fire departments and an Incident Command vehicle from Golden Valley.

At 2:57 p.m., the Salvation Army was notified. At 3:01 p.m., Metro Transit was contacted and asked to bring buses to the scene to serve as staging/warming areas.

At 3:08 p.m., the Incident Command vehicle was set up at Bruce Avenue south of Country Club Road. Additional police crews from Hopkins and fire crews from Minnetonka also responded. The Edina Country Club parking lot was used as a staging area for vehicles and crews. Metro Transit buses were staged on 50th Street.

Gas continued to be detected in the sanitary sewer system at high levels and was ventilated with negative pressure fans. The home at 4920 Arden Ave. had high levels of gas detected and was ventilated. Power to the home was shut off by Xcel Energy. The home was unoccupied.

CenterPoint Energy crews stopped the gas supply to the leak at 8:57 p.m. CenterPoint crews then checked the evacuated homes and found them all to be free of natural gas. At approximately 10 p.m., residents who were assembled at the Edina Country Club were advised, based on their addresses, when they could return home. This information was also posted on the City’s website, Edina Cable Channel 16 (EDINA 16) and Twitter and sent out via City Extra messages. Residents who provided their cell phone or alternative numbers were called.

Approximately nine homes temporarily lost their natural gas service when the gas was shut off to contain the leak. By 1 a.m. on Feb. 24, all homes except 5000 Arden had the gas and power restored and appliance pilot lights re-established. All residents who were evacuated, excluding 5000 Arden Ave., were allowed to return home by 1 a.m. Extensive debris was scattered throughout the neighborhood as a result of the explosion.

Throughout the incident, residents were provided information via the City’s website, EDINA 16, Twitter, City Extra email alerts and by contacting Edina City Hall.

Edina fire crews remained on scene until 1 a.m., when Incident Command was terminated.

Lessons Learned

As in all emergency incidents, there are lessons to be learned.

• If you smell gas in your home at any time, self-evacuate immediately.
• In the case of a below-grade gas line rupture that is not visibly venting into the air, it is essential that gas utility companies conduct ground monitoring for gas in the area and around the foundations of houses. This is extremely crucial when the leak is below the frost line.
• It should be considered, when voluntarily evacuating homes in the areas of underground gas leaks, to leave homes unlocked to allow for monitoring of the interior of the homes.
• The City of Edina and the Edina Fire Department have current communication systems in place such as Code Red, City Extra, EDINA 16, Twitter, Facebook and CityofEdina.com. To enhance the effectiveness of these systems, resident’s cellular phone numbers and email address are needed.

Should you have an issue with damage to your home or property, contact the following:

TD & I Cable Maintenance Inc. (Underground directional drilling company): Peter Martin of Federated Insurance at 952-974-5128 and reference claim # 118881.

CenterPoint Energy: 1-888-861-0498