TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION INCIDENT REPORT Toscc# 2010-2378 scPocc# 10-000159 Sector Car Multiple Nature of incident Hazardous Materials Incident Date 1/4/2011 Incident Location Fire Department Incident Commander Mutual Aid Occupant Name Owner Name (Owner Address ‘Alarm Received From Injuries Fire Service Fatalities Fire Service Class of Material Amount of Material NYS D.E.. Spill # Ignition Factor Area of origin Day Saturday Time of Alarm 04:47 999 Montauk Highway, Shirley, NY 11967 5-12 Mastic Dwight J. Blankenship, Chief of Department Multiple Attached Southport Shopping Center Tet Lerner-Heidenberg Properties Tot: 201-768-1300 234 Closter Dock Rd Closter, NJ 07624 Anatoly Osmolowski Tel: 973-951-7915 1 Injuries Others 0 0 Fatalities Others 0 THIS SECTION FOR HAZ-MAT INCIDENTS ONLY 21 Flammable Gases 09 10,000-49,999 Gallons NIA THIS SECTION FOR ALL FIRES Equipment involved in Ignition Hf equipment involved in ignition: Year Make Model Serial # Ht heating equipment, type fuel: Type Fuet Copies FD CITM RITA RlArsn LJDEC (J12 LIMCS [JPVFM (46 DASSR OHwy Ces CscHs Ciscpoa CFM CPuvBD 1 (37-001.txt-11/6/91)TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION INCIDENT REPORT Form of Heat of Ignition Type of Material First Ignited Form of Material ignited Extent of Damage to Building/Vehicle/Vessel: Fire/Heat Smoke Water Fire Control Extent of Damage to Contents: FirelHeat ‘Smoke Water Fire Control Arson Notification Detective Juvenile involved in ignition Age Fire Marshal intervening: Occupancy Type Construction Type Fire Protection Systems Operated 7 Performance Reason for not operating: THIS SECTION FOR VEHICLE/VESSEL FIRES ONLY Type Year: Make: Model: Color: SerialiVin Registration # State of Registration Other Fire Marshals on Scene Other Agencies on Scene 2 (37-001.txt-1116/91)TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION INCIDENT REPORT Narrative: 11112011 - Responded to a reported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (propane) leak at the above referenced premise at the request of Chief Dwight J Blankenship. | arrived on scene at 01:40 hrs. Upon my arrival conferenced with Chief Blankenship who stated that there is & 30 000 gallon underground propane tank located tothe rear of Kohis that began to leak during refll operations from a tractor trailer With that information, | surveyed the scene and witnesses what appeared to be a substantial iquid propane leak within the rear parking area of Kohls causing a dense vapor cloud covering an ares of approximately 325' X 325° (105625 sqft) at a depth of approximately 2" | immediately recommended thatthe ‘Command post and all operations be relocated to a location West of Wiliam Floyd Pkwy and evacuation of commercial and residential properties be initated in conformance with the recommended parameters ofthe US DOT Emergency Response Guide. Additional resources from the Fire Marshals office arrived and | transferred command of the HazMat section tothe Chief Fire Marshal upon his aval, The command post was ‘subsequently relocated to Brookhaven Calabro Airport with additional staging of apparatus and manpower at the Suffolk County Fire Academy on ‘Yaphank Ave, Yaphank NY. A list of mutual aid resources is attached Mitigation Three attempts to mitigate the leak were performed by this office in conjunction with fre department personnel and representatives of propane purveyors as detailed below +1) FMs Matteo and Hudson entered the "Hot Zone” with two representatives of Syneray Gas for reconnaissance and possible mitigation. We were unable to determine the exact source of the leak due to the lack of vsibilty within the vapor cloud. It was determined thatthe delivery truck ‘remained connected to the fil ste. Fire department personne! stood by with handiines and rapid intervention personnel during this operation 2) FMs Matteo and Hudson entered the “Hot Zone" with representative of Bay Gas who was requested for technical support by command ‘Aditional information was gathered as to the extent ofthe leak and thatthe delivery truck, although connected, was secured from further release by valves that were shut by the driver. A self contained breathing apparatus botle was utilized to displace the cloud at the source of the leak with limited resuits. Attempts at mitgation failed due tothe lack of visibly within the vapor cloud and the cryogenic nature of the releasing liquid. Fire department personnel stood by with handlines and rapid intervention personnel during this operation 3) FMs Matteo and Hudson entered the "Hot Zone” with a representative of Bay Gas and fire department personnel, Upon arrival at the source, @ 2 12" handiine was put into operation in an attempt to direct the release away from the source to mnciease visibly This operation failed es the volume of the leak was too great. We then directed the water stream into the concrete pit surrounding the top ofthe underground tank and filed same to capacity. This operation caused the liquid release of propane to vaporize at an increased rate. A portable water monitor (automatic large flow oscilating spray nozzle) was deployed to continue unmanned dispersion of the vapor cloud. ‘After the above was completed, it was determined that the tank may have to be evacuated of propane to mitigate the leak. Industrial Propane & Reclamation (IP&R) of Sussex, NJ was authorized by Command to respond to perform this operation. Upon their arrival, PER entered the Hot Zone and found thatthe previous operations had significantly reduced the vapor cloud and the area within the pit was now visible. IP&R fepresentatives located a gate valve that when closed discontinued the flow of propane. Water astribution continued untl the levels of propane in the immediate area were fly dissipated Evacuation/Safety Evacuation ofthe commercial and residential occupancies was performed by fire department and police personnel in an approximate 1/2 mile radius of the incident. itis estimated that approximately 800 homes and businesses are located in the evacuation area, and displaced persons were evacuated to shetters at fre department and school district buldings or made their own shelter arrangements. Any premise that was unoccupied was posted fo alert the occupants upon their return of the hazard and to call the command post i the smell of gas was detected within their home. LIPA was requested to shut down the power grid providing electric service tothe area in an effort to eliminate potential igntion sources, All LIRRIMTA train service was discontinued and Sunrise Highway was shut down in both directions. Montauk Highway was also closed to all emergency vehicle traffic as well due tothe migration of the vapor cloud across the highway, Tank evacuation and resident repopulation IPR representatives began the process of evacuating the residual propane contents ofthe tank at approximately 17:30 hrs. The tank was. determined to be empty at approximately 20:30 his. Brookhaven Fire Marshals, fre department poice and Brookhaven National Lab fire service personnel began the process of surveying the entire scene to determine safety of repopulation at approximately 17:00 hrs, At approximately 20.15 his, evacuees were notified that they may return to their homes. Incident investigation: Investigation ofthe incident and interview of the propane delivery truck driver and Synergy Gas representatives revealed: 41) Truck driver, Anatoly Osmolowski of LP Transportation Inc. of Chester NY arrived at the location to deliver approximately 9500 gallons of propane at approximately 23:10 hrs, 1211/2010. 2) Mr. Osmolowski found the fil ste an began the process to fil he tank 3) Mr. Osmoiowski cleared the valve hanciwheels and the gauge of accumulated snow at the top of the underground tank in the concrete pit Finding the gauge reading 23% of capacity within the tank, ne determined that he would be ebie to deliver his entire load of propane at this location, Mr. Osmolowsk' attempted to open the four valves located on top of the tank. Finding three valves open, Mr Osmolawski mistakenly {assumed that the remaining valve (S/W valve) was attached tothe fil piping for the tank and opened seme 4) The fil process continued with Mr. Osmolowski monitoring the operation. Approximately 1 hour into the operation and shortly after noting 50% Contents within the tank, Mr. Osmolowski heard a "surge" of propane, Inspecting the truck and fil site he found no leak. Upon checking the tank 3 (37-001.txt-11/6/91)TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION INCIDENT REPORT area, he noted @ major vapor cloud forming at the top ofthe tank. Mr. Osmolowski immediately shut down the fil operation and evacuated the ‘fea, He then called 911 for fre department response Cause/Contnbuting factors: pibing proceeding underground tothe liquid fill manifold adjacent to the parking area. This liquid fll piping apparently contans a check cave ro Prevent the back flow of iquid propane fram the tank tothe manifold. At the tie of the delivery, the diver found this valve to be open, but he dd ot visualize the valve body or pining and assumed itwas @ vapor supply valve. The west red painted valve terminated in an open brass threaded avid withdrawal connection, No piping was attached to this valve, The cause ofthe incident was found tobe the accidental opening by the aver of the south west valve that was not connected to any liquid or gas distribution piping. The driver mistakenly though that this one closed valve mes Follow up, Synergy Gas has fled for a permit to install 3- 1000 galion ASME aboveground tanks to temporarily provide propane fuel to the commercial ocupants of Southport Shopping Center. As of 19:00 hrs. 1/2/2011, the tanks were installed, filed with propane and feeding all gs melee Syhetay Gas personnel were inthe process of restoring service to all tenants. The 30,000 gallon UIG tank will be repaired and brought info NFPA, Standard 58 2011 edition under permit from this ofice by a licensed contractor. Previous work performed on the UIG tank was Jone by Contractor hired by Synergy without benefit of a permit. The issuance of criminal summonses and responsible parties wil be determined afer the immediate hazard and restoration of services has been completed. ‘Attachments: TOB photos SCPD Arson Squad photos Interviews of driver Vehicte information IPBR report of propane evacuation Fire Marshal resources uliized ‘The command structure was discontinued and al police and fire personnel were released from the scene at approximately 21:30 hrs. FM 83 ae John Dembok Fire Marshal Michael Matteo Chief Fire Marshal 4 (37-001 txt-11/6/91)