UPDATE: Two Weeks Ago An Explosion Leveled A House On 7th Street

UPDATE: It has been two weeks since a midday gas explosion leveled two houses on 7th street and gave three men a memory they will likely never forget. Here is some of the things that were found out about what happened and why, and information how you can be safe if you are doing any digging on your property. There is also a gallery of what the site looked like just after the area was reopened.

UPDATE: After I posted this story, A statement was released by the City of Grand Junction regarding the continuing investigations into the cause of the explosion.

The Statement reads:

Following the natural gas explosion and fire that occurred on March 19, 2013 near 7th Street and Orchard Avenue in Grand Junction, the City’s insurer, CIRSA, hired experts from Advanced Engineering Investigations (AEI) Corporation on behalf of the City to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
AEI Corporation’s engineers have extensive experience in forensic engineering and are recognized experts in the investigation of the gas explosions including gas system analysis and testing and the investigation of fires and explosions, including cause and origin. They continue to investigate the explosion, and it is expected that the investigation will take a significant period of time because of the nature of the incident, the number of parties involved and in the interest of the investigation being as complete as possible. Until the investigation is completed, it is important that no premature conclusions are reached.
The City is committed to thoroughly investigating the circumstances of the explosion and fire.
The City is aware that other parties have also retained consultants to investigate the incident. Pending the completion of all investigations, the City will not be making any comments regarding its investigation or the incident.

If any new news is released, we will be sure to update you here.

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On the morning of March 19, 2013,  a crew from a company that contracted by the City of Grand Junction was doing some under the street drilling to place conduit for new wiring to update traffic signals at 7th and Walnut. While they were drilling, they reported that a strong smell of gas was detected in the area. Excel Energy and the Grand Junction Fire Department reported to the scene to check out the issue. While they were in the area, two men at 1752 7th Street reportedly lit incense to cover a strong smell in their home. Moments later fire started inside and before firefighters could get to the home, it exploded, leveling the home and catching 1742 7th street on fire, which was completely destroyed also. The two men that were in the home, and a third that was just outside were taken to St.Mary's Hospital with injuries.

Investigations later revealed that the drilling had struck an unmarked high pressure supply gas line that feeds Colorado Mesa University, causing a leak of gas that was about 40 p.s.i. in strength, filling the storm drain sewers all around the leak with large amounts of natural gas. Tope Elementary School and GJHS were both evacuated, as were hundreds of homes in the area, and 7th street was closed from Wellington to North Avenue as was Orchard Avenue from 6th to 9th streets. The area law and fire agencies as well as Excel Energy came together quickly to access, handle and repair the situation.

Some residents were allowed home later that evening, however about 75 homes remained evacuated for days. It was Friday at 3:00 p.m. before everyone was allow back home and 7th Street and Orchard Avenue were reopened. The area is now back to normal, except for the two missing houses and a third that was damaged and is uninhabitable.

Ironically as I write this, sitting next to me is a magazine that I just received in the mail. It is titled "The 2013 Excavation Safety Guide & Directory - Pipeline Edition". I am not sure why I was sent this, as I have never worked in the construction industry. It does however arrive just in time for me to share some important information should you decide to do any digging on your property. There is a law in most states that before doing any kind of digging, even for a garden, you are required to call the One-Call Hotline to have all utilities in the area marked. It is a free service and the hotline is open 24 hours a day. In Colorado you must call 811 or 1-800-922-1987 at least 2 full days in advance, not including the day of the call so that someone can come out and mark all of the pipes, lines, cables, and wires that may be buried underground. The markings are good for 30 days and you will be left a verification that you must have when excavating. You can also go online for more information at www.co811.org.

The lives of a few were changed by an experience I can imagine they will never want to go through again, but fortunately no one was killed and we can use this to help educate all of us regarding the laws and regulations regarding digging in the yard.