Underground transformer fire releases carbon monoxide, injuring West Chester firefighters

What happened

On Wednesday 9 August 2017, at around 4 p.m., an underground fire involving a transformer and cables released high levels of carbon monoxide along the 200 block of W. Gay Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The gas overcame firefighters who were tackling the blaze, sidelining five of them. The fire spread to an electrical panel in the basement of a home on the block, and the responders were overcome in that basement.

Emergency officials initially counted 12 injured firefighters but later lowered the total. An assistant fire chief collapsed outside the building and was revived, then taken to hospital and expected to recover. Four other firefighters were taken to hospital as a precaution and were later released. Fire officials evacuated homes and businesses along the 100 and 200 blocks of W. Gay Street while searching for the gas source, and electricity was shut off as a precaution. Carbon monoxide was traced to the underground fire, and residents were allowed back shortly after 8 p.m.

Contributing factors

The underground transformer and cable fire spread to an electrical panel in a basement of a home on the block. The exact cause of the fire was still being determined by the utility and fire officials at the time of reporting.

Lessons learned

1. Treat carbon monoxide as a serious hazard during underground electrical fires, and monitor gas levels and use breathing apparatus before entering nearby buildings.
2. Utilities and fire services should coordinate isolation, gas monitoring and cause investigation promptly after a transformer or cable fire.
3. Check whether underground electrical faults can spread into building electrical panels and cable routes, and plan evacuation and ventilation accordingly.

More lessons on detection and monitoring, spacing, layout and fire spread, from every incident on the register.

Source

nbcphiladelphia.com