2016 Portland, Oregon gas explosion

Gas explosion File:Northwest Portland explosion 2.jpg A picture taken about 45 minutes after the explosion. The smoke plume could be seen from miles around. 9:38AM PST October 19, 2016 Portland, Oregon 45.526371 -122.698331 Negligent excavation 1 building destroyed, 12 others damaged 0 8 $17.2 million USDhttps://www.apnews.com/73fead1b5a734afc9cd601ab9c97d732 Woman injured in Portland explosion first to file lawsuit April 26, 2018 The Oregonian, via Associated Press April 14, 2019 April 14, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190414100139/https://www.apnews.com/73fead1b5a734afc9cd601ab9c97d732 live A large natural gas explosion occurred in the Northwest District of Portland, Oregon, USA, at NW 23rd Avenue and NW Glisan Street on October 19, 2016. Nearby excavation caused a natural gas leak that triggered the explosion, which injured eight people and caused $17.2 million in property damages. The PUC (Oregon Public Utility Commission) determined the cause to be inadequate notification by the contractor, Loy Clark Pipeline. Thirteen buildings were damaged, including total destruction of the Alfred C.F. Burkhardt House, built in 1906 and listed on the NRHP (National Register of Historic Places). Timeline thumb|Aftermath of the explosion. The accident occurred while Loy Clark Pipeline was installing a junction box in a sidewalk for Comcast at NW 23rd Avenue and NW Glisan Street. At 8:55 a.m., an excavator called the local gas company NW Natural after he hit and dislodged a natural gas pipeline belonging to them. The pipe did not break, but was pulled out of a valve some distance away, causing leaking gas to travel under the sidewalk and fill the basement of 500 NW 23rd Avenue. NW Natural responded to fix the leak but decided to call the Portland Fire & Rescue because they found "dangerously high levels of natural gas". A limited number of firefighters (three engines and one truck) showed up and Battalion Chief Scott Beyers made the call to evacuate the businesses and residences near the intersection where the leak occurred. 500 NW 23rd Avenue ultimately exploded.https://www.wweek.com/news/2016/10/26/45-minutes-stood-between-life-and-death-in-the-portland-bagelworks-explosion/ 45 Minutes Stood Between Life and Death in the Portland Bagelworks Explosion Slovic Beth October 25, 2016 Willamette Week 2019-04-15 en-US 2019-04-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20190415072447/https://www.wweek.com/news/2016/10/26/45-minutes-stood-between-life-and-death-in-the-portland-bagelworks-explosion/ live The blast occurred around 9:38 a.m. after reports of strong gas odor. Eight people were injured, including three firefighters and two police officers.https://www.foxnews.com/us/natural-gas-explosion-rocks-portland-neighborhood-injuring-8 Natural gas explosion rocks Portland neighborhood, injuring 8 October 19, 2016 Fox Newshttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oregon-natural-gas-explosion-injures-eight-destroys-building-n669156 Oregon Natural Gas Explosion Injures Eight, Destroys Building Stelloh Tim October 19, 2016 April 20, 2019 NBC News Walters Shamar Douglas David January 3, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180103184840/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oregon-natural-gas-explosion-injures-eight-destroys-building-n669156 live After the explosion, hundreds of firefighters, police officers and paramedics responded. Hospitals and emergency services went into "mass-casualty mode" and made worst-case preparations. The nearby Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center went without power in four of its buildings.http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/10/portland_firefighters_respondi_3.html Explosion reported in NW Portland; 8 injured, including 3 firefighters October 19, 2016 OregonLive February 10, 2017 May 20, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170520070345/http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/10/portland_firefighters_respondi_3.html live Some 2,500 customers lost electricity after the incident.http://katu.com/news/local/major-gas-leak-reported-at-23rd-and-burnside Explosion reported after gas leak in NW Portland, smoke plumes seen for miles Staff KATU com 2016-10-19 KATU 2019-04-21 2019-04-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20190412204626/https://katu.com/news/local/major-gas-leak-reported-at-23rd-and-burnside live About 420 students at Metropolitan Learning Center, many of whom were in the process of taking their PSAT tests, were evacuated and transported to the Portland Public Schools headquarters as a precaution.https://www.kgw.com/article/news/portland-firm-says-subcontractor-hit-gas-line-in-nw-portland-gas-blast/283-338404014 Portland firm says subcontractor hit gas line in NW Portland gas blast Staff KGW October 20, 2016 Aftermath thumb|Boarded up businesses after the explosionIn 2018, ten lawsuits were filed against Loy Clark Pipeline, the company responsible for the blast.Woman injured in NW 23rd explosion first to file lawsuit KGW April 26, 2018 https://www.kgw.com/article/news/woman-injured-in-nw-23rd-explosion-first-to-file-lawsuit/283-546408582 2019-04-12 2019-04-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20190412195722/https://www.kgw.com/article/news/woman-injured-in-nw-23rd-explosion-first-to-file-lawsuit/283-546408582 live 10 lawsuits filed in aftermath of NW 23rd Ave. explosions OregonLive October 31, 2018 https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2018/10/10_lawsuits_filed_in_aftermath.html 2019-04-12 2019-04-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20190412195719/https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2018/10/10_lawsuits_filed_in_aftermath.html live Loy Clark Pipeline was founded in 1957 and in 2016 was a part of Bismarck, North Dakota-based MDU Construction Services Group, Inc.https://www.loyclark.com/about-company/ About Loy Clark Construction - Located in Tualatin, Oregon Loy Clark Construction en-US 2019-04-21 2019-04-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20190421231128/https://www.loyclark.com/about-company/ deadhttps://www.mducsg.com/ MDU Construction Services Group www.mducsg.com 2019-04-21 The Oregon Public Utility Commission concluded "Insufficient Notice to the Oregon Utility Notification Center by Loy Clark Pipeline Co." as the root cause.https://digsafelyoregon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2016-10-19-NWN-Incident-Report-NW-23rd-and-Glisan-RPT.pdf Incident Investigation Report Oregon Public Utility Commission https://web.archive.org/web/20170722223459/https://digsafelyoregon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2016-10-19-NWN-Incident-Report-NW-23rd-and-Glisan-RPT.pdf July 22, 2017 April 13, 2019 KATU reported that Loy Clark Pipeline in five years leading up to the accident had six OSHA violations.https://katu.com/news/investigators/subcontractor-that-dug-into-gas-line-before-explosion-had-six-osha-citations-in-five-years Subcontractor that dug into gas line before explosion had six OSHA citations in five years Douglass Joe October 20, 2016 KATU April 20, 2019 April 20, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190420123815/https://katu.com/news/investigators/subcontractor-that-dug-into-gas-line-before-explosion-had-six-osha-citations-in-five-years live Asbestos was found in the debris two days after the explosion. The building had abatement work done in 1990, but it did not include the roofing, which contained 35% asbestos.https://www.koin.com/news/deq-checks-explosion-site-for-hazardous-materials/870141409 DEQ: Asbestos found in NW Portland explosion debris Steele Tim 2016-10-21 KOIN en-US 2019-04-14 2019-04-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20190414144354/https://www.koin.com/news/deq-checks-explosion-site-for-hazardous-materials/870141409 dead Among the eight injured was a dental hygienist who was hit by glass shards. They filed a lawsuit for $689,000 against Loy Clark Pipeline.https://apnews.com/ed54e746455b4d6db435284ce7c2f428 Gas explosion rocks Portland shopping district, injuring 8 Flaccus Gillian October 19, 2016 Associated Press April 13, 2019 April 14, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190414094351/https://apnews.com/ed54e746455b4d6db435284ce7c2f428 live The owners of the building at 520–526 NW 23rd Avenue also named Comcast and Bremik Construction in addition to Loy Clark Pipeline in their lawsuit for "not properly vetting Loy Clark before hiring the contractor."https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2018/10/19/moonstruck-chocolate-among-the-latest-to-sue-for.html Moonstruck Chocolate among the latest to sue after gas explosion in NW Portland Bell Jon Oct 19, 2018 www.bizjournals.com Portland Business Journal 2019-04-14 2019-04-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20190414143808/https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2018/10/19/moonstruck-chocolate-among-the-latest-to-sue-for.html live For this incident, The Oregonian reported that OSHA fined Tualatin, Oregon-based Loy Clark Pipeline $4,900, and noted they dug on the north side of NW 23rd Avenue even though their notification was to dig on the south side.https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2017/04/oregon_agency_fines_loy_clark.html NW 23rd blast: Oregon agency fines Loy Clark Pipeline $4,900 Brettman Allan 2017-04-07 oregonlive.com en-US 2019-04-21 2019-04-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20190425181259/https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2017/04/oregon_agency_fines_loy_clark.html live The American Red Cross set up a shelter for people displaced by the explosion.https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/328098-207960-timely-evacuations-prevented-deaths-as-massive-gas-explosion-rocks-northwest-portland Timely evacuations prevented deaths as massive gas explosion rocks Northwest Portland October 19, 2016 Portland Tribune en-gb 2019-04-21 2019-04-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20190421232534/https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/328098-207960-timely-evacuations-prevented-deaths-as-massive-gas-explosion-rocks-northwest-portland live In a press conference, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales later stated that "It's a miracle no one was killed.".https://patch.com/oregon/portland/breaking-reported-gas-explosion-destroys-bagel-shop-nw-portland Portland Gas Explosion: 'It's a Miracle No One Was Killed' 2016-10-19 Portland, OR Patch en 2019-04-21 2019-04-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20190421232535/https://patch.com/oregon/portland/breaking-reported-gas-explosion-destroys-bagel-shop-nw-portland live The Oregonian reported in December 2019 that two additional businesses, Portland Bagelworks and Dosha SalonSpa, had filed lawsuits.https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2019/12/portland-bagel-shop-owners-sue-pipeline-company-over-2016-explosion-that-destroyed-business.html Portland bagel shop owners sue pipeline company over 2016 explosion that destroyed business Oregonian/OregonLive Jayati Ramakrishnan The 2019-12-07 oregonlive en 2019-12-23 2019-12-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20191223044409/https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2019/12/portland-bagel-shop-owners-sue-pipeline-company-over-2016-explosion-that-destroyed-business.html live The destroyed Alfred C. F. Burkhardt House had been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2000.https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2016/10/explosion_destroys_110-year-ol.html Explosion destroys 110-year-old building in Northwest Portland Acker Lizzy October 19, 2016 April 21, 2019 The Alfred C. F. Burkhardt House, which stands at 500-510 N.W. 23rd Ave., was placed on the National Register of Historic Place in 2000 April 21, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190421225259/https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2016/10/explosion_destroys_110-year-ol.html live In 2022, a NW Natural employee and a Dosha SalonSpa salon worker won a lawsuit against Loy Clark Pipeline, which combined totaled to $10.4 million ($3.9 million to the NW Natural employee and $6.5 million to the salon worker). Both plaintiffs permanently suffer from hearing loss and pain from loud noises. Along with an additional $2.3 million in punitive damages, this was the largest payout from the result of the explosion.Sparling Zane 2022-10-17 Jury awards $10.4M for trauma suffered in pipeline explosion in NW Portland https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2022/10/jury-awards-104m-to-for-trauma-suffered-in-pipeline-explosion-in-nw-portland.html 2024-04-07 OregonLive en References External links Video on USA Today Burkhardt, Alfred C. F. House (Portland, Oregon) Category:2016 in Portland, Oregon Category:Construction accidents in the United States Category:Gas explosions in the United States Category:October 2016 in the United States Category:2016 explosions Category:Northwest District, Portland, Oregon