Brookfield Home Destroyed by Explosion

Latest Info

Read about the State Corporation Commission report on the explosion
Download the report
Read about the Special 02/11/11 BCA meeting about the incident
Read about the initial report
See photographs
See Results of Fire Department Investigation
See Report Findings
See Probable Violations by Washington Gas

Government Report on Lees Corner Road Gas Explosion

Brookfield Civic Association (BCA) has been working with various official representatives, state and local agencies to obtain as much information as possible regarding the December 19, 2010 natural gas explosion at 4303 Lees Corner Road.

Virginia State Senator Mark Herring forwarded the Accident Investigation Report completed by the Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission Division of Utility and Railroad Safety. This report, dated November 20, 2011, is about 40 pages including attachments.

This information is to be a primary focus at the BCA General Meeting on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at Brookfield Elementary School (at 7:30 pm in the cafeteria).

The Accident Investigation Report contains substantial information. Some highlights are as follows:

There are two important factors indicated in the report that lead to causality:

The gas service line to the home at 4303 Lees Corner Road experienced severe corrosion that resulted in a major gas leak in the road in front of the home.
A section of customer owned natural gas fuel line terminating on the second floor of the home was discovered without an end cap.

The report indicates that the exact cause cannot be determined due to two factors. The first, and in the opinion of BCA the most important, is that Washington Gas failed to properly collect and document critical information immediately after the accident that would conclusively indicate whether natural gas migrated from the undisputed leak in the street in front of the home and cause the explosion.

The report points out that there is no evidence that the "customer owned fuel line" that led to the second floor was properly capped.

It bears note that Washington Gas was cited with eleven probable violations of the Virginia State Corporation Commission's pipeline safety standards. These are indicated in section VI of the report. Photographs included in the report appear below.

Click to download the report in PDF format:

This, however, does not relative to possible migration of natural gas, 4303 Lees Corner Road Chantilly, Virginia November 30,

Natural Gas Explosion Meeting Informative, But Left Some Wanting More

Reported by BCA webmaster Sami Besalel

The BCA general meeting, twice delayed because of snow, finally took place on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 7:30 pm in the Brookfield Elementary cafeteria. The room was packed, and included local news staff, Brookfield residents and other neighbors, representatives of the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire Department, a team of representatives from Washington Gas, two representatives from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and a large showing of the Fairfax County Police (who did not speak at the event). The meeting included a quick summary of Brookfield Civic Association business, but the main topic of discussion was the gas explosion that destroyed the Nguyen home on Lees Corner Road on December 19th.

BCA president Larry Leeds presented Mr. Nguyen with a check for over twenty-two hundred dollars collected by BCA from generous neighbors and local businesses. Funds continue to be collected and will be presented to the family to help them recover.

Brookfield residents were also reminded that BCA dues are only $25/year and help support the work of the association. Click to contact BCA.

Fairfax Fire Department

Then, Fairfax Fire Department Captain Paul Masiello took the podium. Capt. Masiello was raised in our neighborhood and attended Brookfield Elementary. He introduced the Fire Department team and gave a general description of the sequence of events leading up to and following the explosion that destroyed the Nguyen home.

In summary, on December 19, around 8pm, the Fire department was dispatched to investigate reports of a single gas leak. While they were en route, there was a low-grade detonation. Neighbors, not aware that the Nguyen family was away, entered the damaged house to look for injured residents. They reported no smell of gas in the home, but quickly exited, noting small isolated fires and heat fields. Presumably very soon after, the house was ablaze in a massive blaze.

Lt. Forbach, on duty at the scene, continued to explain events as they occured. Upon the explosion, the roof was raised by the blast; the walls began to degrade, and when the roof fell back, the structural integrity of the house was severely impacted. Lt. Forbach called in a second alarm, which brought in another 5 units. The original unit pulled one hose line (attached hose to the fire hydrant at Pennsboro and Lees Corner) and began to try to extinguish the main blaze. Rescue 421/Fair Oaks, arriving soon after, pulled another line to take care of the neighboring houses, and then added their stream to control the main blaze. The blast was so severe that the front door was blown across the street. However, no neighbors, pedestrians, or residents were injured in the blaze.

Capt. Masiello reported that the electrical feed had to be adjusted by hand in order to make the house safe to enter, which took some time. Their firefighting operation was extended into the second day. Fortunately, the firefighters were able to finish their initial investigation on December 20th before sunset. The firefighter investigative team continued interviews, etc., for several days afterward. A helicopter helped record the debris field. The department worked with other agencies, shared information and systematically deduced that the physical findings were consistent with a low-order explosion.

A gas leak was found at the gas main in the street. No definitive information currently exists as to how or whether this gas reached the home and was the cause of the explosion. Although this is only speculation, Capt. Masiello indicated that high probability was that the ignition source was either open flame from pilot lights on furnace or on the hot water tank, or was caused by any compressors or electrical motors inside the house.

The firefighter investigative team has concluded their report and has shared it with the State Corporation Commission and is sharing this information with Washington Gas.

Washington Gas

Huey Battle, Community Involvement Regional Manager for Washington gas, introduced his team, including Steve Price, Division head of Operations (who came out and responded to the event), and Craig Fitzgerald, in charge of operations centers. Several other employees attended, including Ruben Rodriguez, director for Corporate Communications.

Mr. Battle expressed the importance to Washington Gas of the safety and reliability of their system. He indicated that the Washington Gas investigation is ongoing, and indicated that it is their policy not to release any preliminary conclusions.

Steve Price took the podium and described actions on the part of Washington Gas on the evening of the event and thereafter. They canvassed the Brookfield neighborhood with gas detection equipment. They did find a leak in the gas main out in the street not far from the Nguyen home. Copper gas pipes had corrosion. The leak was repaired that night. Subsequent investigations found only one other small leak. Mr. Price reported that this small leak was away from a valve that was not damaging property and people and that it too was repaired.

Residents had many questions, and while Mr. Price responded to each, many of the answers were not forthcoming, couching responses in terms like "we are not prepared to discuss this," "we cannot draw conclusions yet," etc. Washington Gas representatives refused during the meeting to commit to a date for the conclusion of their investigation, indicating that they will continue to communicate and cooperate with the State Corporation Commission and the fire department. Mr. Price was surprised that the fire department had concluded their investigation and suggested that reviewing that report may assist Washington Gas in focusing on specific elements of the continuing investigation.

Several residents were very vocal and did not feel their questions were being taken seriously. At least one couple left after repeated (if not polite) attempts at getting satisfactory answers were unsuccessful. But most attendees were calm, and respectfully pressed for more information. Several residents expressed frustration at the seeming lack of communication from Washington Gas. One resident, Sharon Diaz, stressed repeatedly that Washington Gas owed Brookfield residents a communication strategy that included accomplishments, further goals, and time guidelines or expectations.

Following the end of the planned discussion, perhaps a third of the attendees reamined in the room, asking specific questions of various representatives of the fire department and of Washington Gas.

In further discussions with Mr. Battle, he pointed out that investigation times vary, but that most conclude within six months, and that while not guaranteed, it would be reasonable to apply the same expectations to this invesgitation. Mr. Rodriguez committed to Ms. Diaz that he would develop a communication plan and that they would inform the Brookfield community by proxy through the Brookfield Civic Association, which would inform its residents via its web site. Check the Gas Explosion link for future updates.

Thanks

Brookfield Civic Association wishes to thank Ms. Mary Miller, Brookfield Elementary Principal; the PTA, who co-sponsored the event; Brookfield custodial staff; the guest speakers; and all who attended.

Explosion Destroys Brookfield Home; BCA Accepting Contributions for Homeowner


Before	After - See more photos

Photos by Larry Leeds, BCA President

Natural gas is expected to be the cause of the explosion that totally destroyed a neighborhood home in the 4300 block of Lees Corner Road on Sunday evening, December 19th. The residents, Thuan Nguyen and his family, were not home. According to the Fairfax Times article reporting the story, the Nguyen family was in Manassas having dinner with friends, a meal which obviously saved their lives.

Washington Gas and other utilities have set up a command center outside the home just south of Pennsboro Drive, and are investigating the cause. Reportedly, scant minutes before the explosion, multiple calls reporting a strong smell of gas were made to the authorities, and work teams were en route when the explosion occurred.

This recently renovated two-story home is essentially totalled. The explosion resulted in the front door being blown clear across the street; the fire caused aluminum siding to melt on both neighboring houses. A chain link fence has been put up around the disaster area, where you can still see a car buried under what remains of the garage. Most of what is left is rubble.

Soliciting Contributions for the Homeowners

The Brookfield Civic Association (BCA) has set up a special bank account to accept contributions for this family, to help them through this difficult time. If you would like to help, please send your contributions to the Brookfield Civic Association, PO Box 22582, Chantilly, VA 20153-2582. For more information, email info@brookfieldcivic.org.

To see photos of the damage and links to blogs and news reports, click here.

BCA will be establishing additional resources for residents such as an emergency contact list. Check back soon.

Photographs