BFD  Incident  Update
DATE: July, 23, 2008

ADULTS INJURED: 1
TIME: 2049 hrs

MINORS INJURED: 0
INCIDENT TYPE: Large gas leak

CIVILIAN FATALITIES: 0
ADDRESS / LOCATION:   1830 Golden State

CIVILIANS RESCUED : 0
INCIDENT NO: 15695

FIREFIGHTER INJURIES: 0
OCCUPANCY NAME: GET Bus Barn

FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES: 0
OCCUPANCY / # UNITS: 1

PET / ANIMAL FATALITIES: 0
1st IN COMPANY: FS 1

ASSISTING AGENCIES: PG&E, KCFD
BATTALION: B 1

INCIDENT CONTROL TIME: 1 hour 15 min.
COUNCIL WARD: Ward 2 (Benham)

INCIDENT DURATION: 2 hrs
DOLLAR LOSS: Unknown

TOTAL # ALARMS: 1 reinforced
DOLLARS SAVED: Unknown

TOTAL  # PERSONNEL: 23
DISPLACED/EVACUATED: 30

INCIDENT COMMANDER: Battalion Chief Bill Ballard
ARSON / CAUSE: Under-investigation NEWSLINE RECORDER: 631-0912
 
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 2049 hrs. (8:49 p.m. PST) a reinforced 1st alarm from the Bakersfield FIRE Department consisting of 3 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 squad, 2 Battalion Commanders, 2 Haz Mat Units, and various support units responded to a report of a large natural gas leak at a central Bakersfield location.

First arriving companies reported one of three large compressors used to raise the pressure of natural gas for use in buses and other vehicles was leaking. BFD and KCFD Haz Mat teams were responded. 
 
The building and surrounding area was evacuated and entry was denied. Working with maintenance staff it was determined that a pressure release valve had opened due to over pressurization of the tank. The gas feeding the tank was shut off and the area was ventilated to confirm that there was no accumulated flammable gas.
 
The cause of the leak was probably failure of an electronic or mechanical component of the unit.
 
Staff  was allowed to return at approximately 11:00 pm