When the tones and bells ring and we are dispatched to “respond for a smell of gas,” we can often get a little too comfortable; after all, it’s just a smell of gas. And therein lies the problem. It’s important to remember that we respond to gas smells and leaks because of the dangerous effects gas can have on people, not to mention the potential for an explosion.
While most gas emergencies do not turn out to be serious, not being prepared for what COULD go wrong is how we can get in serious trouble. Like all runs, it’s how we train and prepare before the incident that can determine whether we are successful on scene.
If you look at our history, there have been several gas leaks that were much worse than originally anticipated, some injuring and killing civilians and firefighters. Take some time to research these incidents like the recent gas emergencies in Seattle (just two months ago); San Bruno, CA; Prince George's County, MD; Poland, OH; Haverstraw, NY; as well as one of the worst gas emergencies to rock the fire service—Buffalo, NY, 1983, when five city firefighters were killed in the line of duty when a propane blast leveled a warehouse. The explosion damaged 12 city blocks and remains the department’s deadliest incident in modern history.
Keene fire and hazmat ops
The close call we’ll address this month happened in Keene, NH. Located in Cheshire County, Keene is a city of 23,500 people and home to three colleges. The Keene Fire Department (KFD) consists of 45 career members—one chief, one deputy chief, one lieutenant of fire prevention, one lieutenant of fire alarm and prevention, one training officer, four captains (shift commanders), eight line lieutenants and seven firefighters per shift.
The KFD also has a roster of 20 paid on-call firefighters who supplement all types of responses. The department operates two engines, one 2,500-gallon pumper/tanker, one 75-foot quint, one 110-foot aerial, one heavy rescue, two brush units, three ALS ambulances, three command units, one utility and three specialized response trailers, all from two fire stations.
Keene is one of nine regional New Hampshire state hazmat teams certified to technician level, with 35 career member technicians. Manchester, NH, and Keene are the only departments that have stand-alone teams; others are regional and made up of members from multiple departments. The KFD—which provides full fire, technical rescue and ALS ambulance service and transport—responded in 2015 to a total of 4,720 incidents, 120 of which occurred during this close call.
Strong mutual aid
The KFD is a member of, and is dispatched by, the regional Southwestern New Hampshire District Fire Mutual Aid System. Based in Keene and known locally as “Mutual Aid,” they dispatch fire and EMS for 78 communities in New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. Quite honestly, Mutual Aid is one of the most professional and efficient fire/EMS dispatch centers I have ever visited. In business since the 1950s, they are led by Mutual Aid Chief Phil Tirrell and typically have two dispatchers and a supervisor on duty. The reliance on a professionally prepared dispatch center is critical for any fire or rescue operation, and the personnel at Mutual Aid performed admirably on this incident, as you will read from Keene Fire Chief Mark Howard.
Incident details from Chief Howard
On Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at 0913 hrs, the KFD was alerted about the odor of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas in a building at 90 Main St. This was the start of the largest deployment of fire/EMS resources in recent history to the City of Keene. It should be noted that this particular gas system dates back to Dec. 19, 1859—156 years to the day of this incident!
We were being dispatched to several calls for odors of LP gas, and fire department command staff contacted Liberty Utilities, the regional gas provider. Liberty Utilities reported that their monitoring had detected a problem with the blowers that provide air to the system, and that they had staff at the plant and were working to mitigate the problem. Over the first hour, fire crews responded to 12 propane gas-related emergencies around the city, with many of them on Main Street.
When it was confirmed that the propane gas incidents occurring in the city were related to a higher concentration of propane gas being distributed from the Liberty Utilities Production Facility, the fire department began to recall off-duty and call personnel, and make notifications for additional resources. Within the first 30 minutes, a third-alarm response was requested into the city for pending calls. These resources included fire and EMS units to handle the response to 9-1-1 calls and the request to open the City of Keene Emergency Operations Center (EOC) so the response could be coordinated. Several City of Keene departments—including Fire, Police, Public Works, City Manager’s Office, Building, Planning, Information Technology, and Parks and Recreation staff—worked in the EOC.
The city response to mitigate the incident was coordinated with Liberty Utilities very early in the incident. Liberty Utilities’ priorities were to restore the plant operations, isolate the high concentration of gas being distributed to the customers, purge the system of the higher concentration of gas at remote points, and then restore service to the customers where the gas had to be shut off.
While this was occurring, fire and EMS personnel were assigned to mitigate reported 9-1-1 emergencies and begin proactive air-monitoring checks of customers served in the distribution system where potential problems could develop. Within the first two hours, the EOC used the State of New Hampshire reverse 9-1-1 call system, local media outlets and social media platforms to inform the public of the events. A telephone hotline was also established and staffed to provide information to the public. This entire effort was coordinated with all agencies at the EOC.
Due to the number of incidents where carbon monoxide (CO) levels and combustible gas readings (lower explosive limit) were found in buildings, it was determined that the fire department would need to check all 1,250 customers in the area.
As a precaution, a warming center/shelter was opened at the City of Keene Parks and Recreation facility located on Washington Street. This was coordinated and staffed by the New Hampshire chapter of the American Red Cross and the Parks and Recreation staff.
What caused the problem?
Liberty Utilities said a power problem at its propane production plant in Keene led to the operational issues that affected the mixture of propane and air flowing into the distribution system around 0850 hrs. The company said in a statement that the change caused gas with high BTU content to enter their system–and that the high BTU gas could “potentially produce carbon monoxide at the gas appliance/burner tip in a home or business.”
Liberty received initial notification from the monitored off-site alarms for a blower problem at the Liberty Utilities Production Facility located at 207 Emerald St. Liberty Utilities personnel were notified and dispatched to the facility.
The first Liberty Utilities technician was at the production facility at 0903 hrs and confirmed the blowers that introduce air into the production process were not operating. Steps were immediately taken to restore the blowers as additional Liberty Utilities personnel were responding to the facility. While steps were being taken to restore the blowers, the production facility was no longer mixing 30 percent propane and 70 percent air to enter the distribution system.
At this point, only the propane was entering the distribution system, increasing the concentration of propane gas. At the same time, the controls had malfunctioned on the rate of flow, raising the flow rate to a much higher level, as if the system was calling for more demand due to use.
Once this occurred and the high concentration of propane gas entered the distribution system of the city, our problems at the customer locations started. The cause of the blower(s) failures and why backup systems didn’t operate remains under investigation. The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission is responsible for such investigations.
When this higher BTU gas makes it to the appliances served, it creates the potential for an odor of gas and higher CO levels within the structures due to incomplete combustion of the gas. At no point during the incident was there a propane leak of the distribution system into any structures, nor was this a “natural gas incident.”
Response and resources
A total of 64 departments responded with fire and EMS apparatus, personnel and equipment to more than 100 incidents for propane and CO emergencies during the 17-hour period. These resources came from New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. A total of 12 local, regional, state and private agencies provided support to the fire and EMS response, while Liberty Utilities deployed 81 personnel for their response.
At one point, 25 engine companies were assigned to five districts in the city to begin monitoring all customer locations, while an additional dozen engine companies, three ladder companies and a rescue company were assigned to respond to the 9-1-1 calls being received. The local hospital, Cheshire Medical Center, was also alerted to a possible Level II MCI response (10–25 patients) due to possibility of CO exposure patients.
At 0919 hrs, as the “on-call duty chief,” I responded to the calls being received. While on the way in, I was briefed by phone by the on-duty shift commander of the initial report received from Liberty Utility staff. I then contacted the operations manager for Liberty Utilities direct to see if there was a problem at the Emerald Street facility. He confirmed that the blowers were down and the “high BTU gas" had entered the system.
The Liberty Utilities Production Facility produces a mixture of propane and air that is delivered through its distribution system of 30 miles of pipe to 1,250 customers within the city. The underground distribution system covers approximately 2 square miles of the inner city and created numerous responses.
Those responses included a first-alarm response for a reported fire in the building at Harborside Healthcare, located at 298 Main St. The fire, which was ultimately contained to the boiler room, was the result of an appliance malfunction related to the Liberty Utility issue.
Units also responded to Tilden’s Hallmark store at 87 Main St., where fire crews rescued an adult female. Fire crews had been sent to the Hallmark store for an odor of gas. Upon entering and checking the store, high levels of CO and combustible propane gas were detected on the gas meters. Crews were checking to ensure that the store had been fully evacuated when the adult was found unconscious and down in the rear of the store. The fire crew removed her from the building and provided emergency medical care and transport to Cheshire Hospital.
Three other patients were transport by EMS crews for possible exposure to CO at other incidents.
Unified command established
The first Command Post was established by fire and police units with Liberty Utilities at the Emerald Street Production Facility at approximately 0930 hrs. Keene Police Sgt. Chris Symonds, Operations Manager Steve Rokes from Liberty Utilities and myself were at the Command Post. I asked for confirmation from Rokes as to the status of the plant and what their priorities were. I advised him of the calls we were taking and that this was not isolated to just one area. At this point, additional fire resources were requested from our pre-established response alarm assignment cards for the City.
Shortly after 1000 hrs, due to the steady increase of emergency calls being received, I requested that Sgt. Symonds make notification that the fire chief was requesting the emergency management director and police chief be called in to open the EOC. I also requested that the local radio station make a PSA that the city was experiencing a “city gas problem” and that all customers of Liberty Utilities should remain alert to the announcements and also to call 9-1-1 if gas odors were detected or for activation of CO detectors. Additionally, I requested Keene Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Chickering, who was clearing a call, to report to the EOC.
At approximately 1130 hrs, I reported to the EOC and was able to brief the acting city manager, police chief and deputy fire chief of what progress had been made and what was known at that point. New operational priorities, including the request for additional resources, were agreed upon and put into motion by the EOC staff present.
Priorities established
The department was focused on eight key priorities to mitigate the incident:
- Protect life and property by mitigating all incidents reported.
- All locations found to have CO or LEL readings were ordered to shut down appliances.
- Monitor for combustible and CO gas in all 1,250 customer locations to confirm buildings were safe.
- Notify state officials including state fire marshal and Homeland Security Emergency Management so they could support our needs.
- Notification of the public and media of the hazards and provide updates to the public.
- Work with Liberty Utilities to monitor their progress; requested them to EOC.
- Work on planning for shelters if this was going to become long-term incident and started planning for the second 12-hour work period that would start at 2100 hrs Saturday evening.
- Planning was started for 12-hour work periods, 0900–2100 hrs and 2100–0900 hrs.
Under control
At approximately 1000 hrs, the Liberty Utilities personnel at the Emerald Street Facility reported that the blowers were back up and running and that they were making the correct concentration of gas again. By 1115 hrs, Liberty Utilities personnel were also taking steps to purge (flare-off) the distribution system to remove the high concentration propane gas. This process continued until approximately 2030 hrs when they reported to EOC staff that the purging of the system was completed at 10 locations and that the concentration of the propane gas was back to normal limits.
The checks of all customer locations were completed by fire department personnel at 0100 hrs Sunday and the incident declared under control. All Mutual Aid responders had cleared the City of Keene by 0200 hrs after being debriefed. By 0230 hrs, the EOC was closed and the department had resumed normal operations and response.
All patients were treated and released from the Cheshire Hospital. There were no injuries reported by fire/EMS personnel, and there were no reported responder injuries. One fire department unit (Ladder 2) was involved in an accident, striking a parked car during a response to a call. That fire unit remained in service after the police investigation.
Next month
Next month we’ll provide an incident review and lessons learned, as well as some considerations related to fire dispatch centers.
Our sincere thanks to Fire Chief Mark Howard, Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Chickering and all the KFD personnel, Chief Phil Tirrell of the Southwestern New Hampshire Fire Mutual Aid System, Mutual Aid Deputy Chief Tom Redin and all the officers and dispatchers for their cooperation in the development of this article. Thanks also go to all of the firefighters, fire officers and EMTs of the 33 engine companies, three ladder companies and 11 ambulances, as well as law enforcement, utilities and all others who responded or stood by as a part of this incident.
