Detroit: Natural gas blast destroys home

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I was researching and found this report from January 14 on a gas explosion in Detroit. I searched archives and has apparently niot been posted. One of the interesting quotes from the story is this one:

"We're going to cooperate fully with authorities," Dodd said. "Home gas explosions are very rare. In 12 years with Consumers, I've only been called out on two of these."

Natural gas blast destroys home: Consumers crew tested line prior to explosion Source: The Detroit News

Publication date: Jan 14, 2000

MADISON HEIGHTS -- Oakland County fire investigators are probing a natural gas explosion that blew up a home Thursday morning and rocked a suburban neighborhood shortly after a visit from a repair crew.

Consumers Energy spokeswoman Debra Dodd said a meter reader had been at 1515 Elliott about 8:30 a.m. on her route. While in the basement reading the meter, she smelled natural gas.

The worker offered to call in the gas leak for the owner, Dodd said. Company records show a crew responded at 8:46 a.m., and one found a problem with a gas regulator. The problem was corrected, then workers tested the line and when no leaks were found, they left.

At 11:21 a.m. the block was rocked by the explosion.

"We're very fortunate no one was injured," Dodd said. "The home is totalled and we had to dig up the main. We've tested up and down the street for natural gas problems and found none."

Sgt. John Hautala of the Madison Heights Fire Department said the gas leak was in the basement.

"The whole house exploded -- it blew out some windows and cracked the foundation of a home next door, but the main damage and fire was contained to that address," he said.

Charred bricks were scattered throughout the block and the home's front door was found at a home across the street.

Allen Firestone of nearby Rose Street said area residents reported feeling houses shake blocks away.

"I came home from lunch and followed the smoke," he said.

Dodd said the meter was pulled from the basement for testing.

"We're going to cooperate fully with authorities," Dodd said. "Home gas explosions are very rare. In 12 years with Consumers, I've only been called out on two of these."

Consumers Energy services 1.6 million customers, primarily in Metro Detroit.

"Gas is typically a very safe source of power," she said. "We don't know what went wrong and will investigate."

The homeowner could not be reached for comment Thursday. George Valrance, a spokesman for another utility, Michigan Consolidated Gas, agreed such explosions are rare.

Safety first

Consumers Energy service says natural gas remains a safe and efficient form of power but that users should be cautious and follow two rules.

Keep all appliances in proper working order and maintained regularly. If you smell natural gas report it immediately by calling (800) 477-5050.

Source: Consumers Energy

Link to story:

http://beta.newsreal.com/cgi-bin/NewsService?osform_template=pages/newsrealStory&ID=newsreal&storypath=News/Story_2000_01_15.NRdb@2@0@3@366&path=News/Category.NRdb@2@16@2@1

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), January 30, 2000

Answers

Hmmm...that quote is fascinating, and appears unrefuted to date. Thanks Carl.

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), January 30, 2000.

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