Here's What's Hot On CBS11TV.com:
-
May 20, 2008 3:15 pm US/Central
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
Atmos Officials Detail McKinney Gas Explosions
McKINNEY (CBS 11 News) ―
Officials with Atmos Energy spoke for the first time Tuesday about last week's gas line explosions in McKinney.
The explosions happened Friday in a residential neighborhood in the 600 block of Fenet Street. Contractors from M.J. Sheridan were moving a gas line for Atmos Energy when they hit and broke the line.
Atmos officials say the line was properly marked and the break was a case of 'human error'.
Tuesday Atmos released a timeline detailing activity the afternoon of the explosions.
- 4:30 p.m. – M.J. Sheridan crew hits gas line
- 4:38 p.m. – M.J. Sheridan worker calls Atmos to report line break
- 4:52 p.m. – Atmos technician sent to scene
- 5:06 p.m. – Atmos technician reaches site
M.J. Sheridan President Daniel Brown released a statement Tuesday that said in part, "M. J. Sheridan management has reviewed the timeline distributed today by Atmos regarding the chain of events that led to Friday's incident. Our timelines are very close identical and we are confident that M.J. Sheridan employees followed not only our company policies but also followed normal industry practices for such incidents."
Officials with Atmos say there's every indication that the technician followed protocol and adequately secured the scene. Atmos says after arriving on the scene the technician checked manhole covers and found no indication of gas.
What no one knew is that gas from the line break was leaking into the sewer system. Tuesday Atmos officials said they aren't sure how that happened or why the gas moved into area houses so quickly.
"I wish that we had thought to look at the sewer," said John Paris, president of Atmos Energy's Mid-Tex Division. "That's just an extraordinary event."
McKinney Fire Chief Mark Wallace says the first explosion occurred at 5:39 p.m., more than an hour after the line break. Three citizen 911 calls were made at 5:39 p.m. Friday, just after the first two explosions.
Emergency crews were dispatched at 5:40 p.m. and arrived on the scene at 5:43.
The third explosion took place at 5:46 p.m.
Some victims' families told CBS 11 News that neither M.J. Sheridan contractors nor Atmos workers notified neighbors that the gas line was broken. Daniel took issue with those claims in his statement saying, "After the gas main was breached, BUT BEFORE ANY EXPLOSION, M.J. Sheridan employees knocked on doors and advised residents of the gas leak and told those closest to the leak to leave the vicinity. Some residents were evacuated and at least one individual, who lived at the triplex located at the corner of Throckmorton and Fenet, was prevented by M.J. Sheridan workers from starting his truck."
Atmos officials say they receive reports everyday about gas line breaks and it is not standard practice to call 911 or to evacuate a neighborhood when a line is broken.
Officials with Atmos Energy say they are reviewing their company practices and procedures.
Three people remain hospitalized as a result of injuries sustained in Friday's explosions.
Raul Moreno, 27, is in serious condition at parkland hospital with burns over 20-percent of his body, including his upper torso, face, arms and hands.
Arthur Bryson, 76, and Nancy Foster are also being treated at Parkland and are in critical condition.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Most Popular Video on cbs11tv.com