Little General Store Propane Explosion - US Chemical Safety and ...

Little General Store September 2008
Recent Propane Incidents
CSB identified the following incidents for further research based on their similarity to the Little General
incident. The CSB interviewed the propane companies, emergency responders, and local investigators
involved in these incidents to collect relevant information. The CSB did not conduct an independent
investigation.
1.0 Propane Release Incidents
1.1 Aberdeen, Washington
1.1.1 Incident Description
On October 23, 2007, the Southshore Mall in Aberdeen, Washington, was evacuated due to a vapor
release from a 1,150-gallon propane tank. The tank was located in a utility yard approximately 25 feet
from the mall restaurants for which it supplied heat and fuel. Shortly after 2:00 pm, a mall employee
heard a “pop” and, upon going outside to investigate, discovered the leaking tank. The fire department
responded, evacuated the mall, and isolated the scene.
The fire department called the propane company that owned the tank for incident support. The company
sent one service technician to assist the fire department. The responding technician found the release was
from the tank’s fill valve, which had become stuck partially open. The technician installed a double-
check valve on the leaking fill valve to stop the release. The fire department lifted the evacuation order
by 2:45 pm.
1.1.2 Incident Responders
The propane company involved in this incident reported having a preexisting working relationship with
the fire department. All the propane company’s employees train on job procedures with CETP and
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