JFD, DPS respond to ruptured gas line
Alexandra Nicolas
Issue date: 12/4/09 Section: News
Emergency services were called to the Mansion Monday evening in response to a ruptured one-inch gas line reportedly "hissing natural gas from the soil."
The official report by the Joplin Fire Department states that the contractor responsible, Branco Enterprises, Inc. out of Neosho, "failed to terminate natural gas service," prior to demolition of the Mansions south guest cottage building.
"I called the project manager and expressed my displeasure, that that is not acceptable," said Bob Harrington, director of the physical plant.
Charlie Weaver, project manager for Branco, said it's difficult to isolate certain lines within an active campus with out cutting off resources to the school and that with classes both during the day and at night there was no practical time to cap the line.
"We were trying to demo without cutting anything off," he said. "You try and work around the active lines and sometimes it doesn't work out."
Emergency services including the Joplin Fire Department and Missouri Southern Department of Public Safety collaborated with Missouri Gas and Energy and Mike Fox, mechanical maintenance supervisor for Southern's physical plant to cap the line and stop the leak.
As of Wednesday afternoon no report on the incident had been filed with Southern DPS. Ken Kennedy, director of public safety, said at the time the officers on the scene "just hadn't done it yet."
However, Kennedy did confirm reports that one of the officers on the scene of the leak nearly lit a cigarette before being advised not to do so.
An official report is now on file with DPS.
The official report by the Joplin Fire Department states that the contractor responsible, Branco Enterprises, Inc. out of Neosho, "failed to terminate natural gas service," prior to demolition of the Mansions south guest cottage building.
"I called the project manager and expressed my displeasure, that that is not acceptable," said Bob Harrington, director of the physical plant.
Charlie Weaver, project manager for Branco, said it's difficult to isolate certain lines within an active campus with out cutting off resources to the school and that with classes both during the day and at night there was no practical time to cap the line.
"We were trying to demo without cutting anything off," he said. "You try and work around the active lines and sometimes it doesn't work out."
Emergency services including the Joplin Fire Department and Missouri Southern Department of Public Safety collaborated with Missouri Gas and Energy and Mike Fox, mechanical maintenance supervisor for Southern's physical plant to cap the line and stop the leak.
As of Wednesday afternoon no report on the incident had been filed with Southern DPS. Ken Kennedy, director of public safety, said at the time the officers on the scene "just hadn't done it yet."
However, Kennedy did confirm reports that one of the officers on the scene of the leak nearly lit a cigarette before being advised not to do so.
An official report is now on file with DPS.
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