Natural Gas Explosion in Forestville, MD

Having served as a firefighter in Prince Georges County, MD many years ago, my interest in a television news story was peaked last night. Firefighters in PG County responded to a natural gas leak and moments after evacuating the strip mall, it exploded.

Here is the accounting from PG County Fire/EMS:

"At 12:54 PM on Thursday, May 7, 2009, Prince George’s County Firefighter/Medics were dispatched on a call that no one is soon to forget. Firefighters were alerted to respond to the Penn-Mar Shopping Center, a large 1-story strip mall, in the 3400 Block of Donnell Drive in Forestville and arrived at 12:59 PM. First arriving crews initiated an investigation into a strong odor of natural gas inside the businesses. Firefighters evacuated 5 of the 6 stores that were in the area of the odor, a sixth store was vacant. Forty-five people were evacuated from the 5 stores and firefighters then started ventilation efforts and called for assistance of the Washington Gas Company. Firefighters discovered natural gas bubbling up from the ground on the exterior rear of the vacant store and minutes later reported that there was a fire on the interior. Within a minute, at about 1:20 PM, a massive explosion occurred. A MAYDAY call was sounded and additional resources including paramedics and a second alarm of firefighters were summoned to the scene."

Take this time to think about your facility. What if someone smells gas? What are you going to do? Take the time now to review your emergency plan to ensure it properly addresses gas leaks. Ensure the plan addresses:

• prompt alerting of the public fire department and gas company
• warning occupants to evacuate using travel paths that are away from the source of the gas leak
• assembling evacuees at a location safely away from the potential blast zone (the North American Emergency Response Guidebook calls for isolating the leak area for at least 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions.)
• and shuting off the gas (who should shutoff the gas, when is it safe to do so, where is the wrench, and how do you do it).

Video of the incident is linked to the Fox Television in Washington, DC. A YouTube video is also available. A brief audio from engine 826 is available from the PG County Fire/EMS website linked to the title of this blog article.