Thursday, May 6, 2010

SFD Media Release - For more information on this release please call (509)625-7002

ISSUING OFFICER: AC Schaeffer
DATE OF INCIDENT: 5/6/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: HazMat
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1405 N LINDEKE ST
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201

NARRATIVE: On Thursday May 6, 2010 at 2:17 PM, 7 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Pumper-Ladder and 1-Hazardous Materials Truck under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Dan Brown and Craig Cornelius responded to a reported natural gas leak at 1405 N Lindeke. The incident was near Holmes Elementary School (2600 West Sharp Avenue) and occurred within 45-minutes of the end of school.

When the first company arrived, they were met with a leaking underground gas line which had been severed during a residential digging operation. Companies assigned to the incident were used to evacuate nearby neighbors and establish a parameter in which dangerous levels of the gas existed. The SFD's HazMat Team was also utilized specifically to monitor the levels of natural gas and assist in mitigating the leak with the crews from Avista.

Two fire companies and a Chief were specifically assigned to the Holmes Elementary School. The groups included Spokane Public Schools' resource officers and administrative staff from the Elementary School and their collective objectives were to protect the children in the school from the threat of the nearby leak and facilitate and orderly and timely dismissal of students.

The incident planning software "Rapid Responder" was utilized by Incident Command Staff to accomplish these objectives and to identify locations of utilities, key staff members and make tactical plans. The software package is cooperatively used by Law, Fire and School District personnel throughout Spokane to ensure your safety. Children in the school were moved to areas in accordance with their emergency plans and a contingent bus route was exercised which allowed for easy loading of busses and unification with parents by foot and by vehicle.

The HazMat Team was successful in containing the leak and assuring the citizens were safe by continuously monitoring the area until levels of natural gas were dimished. The children and staff at the school were kept safe and eventually dismissed on time without an impact to their schedule.

No civilians or firefighters were injured as a result of the incident.


PROBABLE CAUSE: On Thursday May 6, 2010 at 2:17 PM, 7 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Pumper-Ladder and 1-Hazardous Materials Unit under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Dan Brown and Craig Cornelius responded to a reported natural gas leak at 1405 N Lindeke. The incident was near Holmes Elementary School (2600 West Sharp Avenue) and occurred within 45-minutes of the end of school.

When the first company arrived, they reported a leaking underground gas line which had been severed during a residential excavation operation. Fire companies assigned to the incident evacuated nearby neighbors and established a parameter around the leak where dangerous levels of the gas existed. The SFD's HazMat Team was also utilized specifically to monitor the levels of natural gas and assist in mitigating the leak with the crews from Avista.

Two fire companies and a Chief were assigned to the Holmes Elementary School. Personnel from the Spokane Public School administrative staff and resource officers met with the SFD and identified their collective objectives as; protection of the children/staff in the school from the threat of the nearby leak and facilitate an orderly and timely dismissal of students.

The incident planning software "Rapid Responder" was utilized by Incident Command Staff to accomplish these objectives and to identify locations of utilities, key staff members and pre-existing tactical plans. The software package is cooperatively used by Law, Fire and School District personnel throughout Spokane to ensure your safety. Children in the school were moved to areas in accordance with their emergency plans in Rapid Responder. A contingent bus route was also put into place which allowed for easy loading of busses and unification with parents by foot and by vehicle.

The HazMat Team was successful in containing the leak and assuring the citizens were safe by continuously monitoring the area until levels of natural gas were dimished. The children and staff at the school were kept safe and eventually dismissed on time without an impact to their schedule.

No civilians or firefighters were injured as a result of the incident.

DAMAGE EXTENT: The cause of this incident was determined to be accidental and a result of a residential excavation project.
DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

No comments:

Spokane Fire Department

Blog Archive