JERRYMAC
07-27-2008, 10:14 PM
PLEASE NOTE BOTH THE PLUMBER AND THE GAS CO. WERE ON SITE AND SIGNED OFF ON THIS GAS SYSTEM MOMENTS BEFORE THE EXPLOSION
JERRYMAC
July 27, 2008
Dozens still displaced after Queens explosion
July 26, 2008
NEW YORK - Dozens of residents are waiting to see when they will be allowed
back into a Queens building rocked by a gas explosion and fire.
Firefighters and city buildings officials continued Saturday to investigate
Friday's blast, which tore apart walls and injured 17 people. Two were
critically hurt; their condition wasn't immediately available from a
hospital Saturday evening.
The Buildings Department says 37 of the Flushing building's roughly 90
apartments remain uninhabitable.
American Red Cross spokesman Harris Bostic says the charity is housing four
families in hotels and provided food and other help to 40 families in the
hours after the blast.
It happened about 10 minutes after natural gas service was restored to part
of the Sanford Avenue building. The gas had been off since a June 11 fire.
July 27, 2008
Councilman calls for probe into Flushing building blast
BY ANDREW STRICKLER | andrew.strickler@newsday.com; The Associa
July 27, 2008
As fire marshals sifted through the wreckage of a Queens building damaged by
a powerful gas explosion on Friday, a city councilman yesterday called for
an investigation into the blast that hurt 17 people, two of them critically.
"Some residents there have been told by people working in the building that
there were serious problems with the gas in the building," said Councilman
John Liu, who represents the area of Flushing where the building is located.
The explosion on Sanford Avenue, apparently sparked in a second-story
apartment kitchen, sent flames shooting into other apartments, buckled walls
and knocked air conditioners out of windows.
Firefighters said two people were critically injured and a third had serious
wounds. Fourteen others, including six firefighters, suffered minor
injuries, the Fire Department said.
The fire caused no structural damage, but charring, water damage, broken
windows and collapsed interior partitions left 37 of the building's roughly
90 apartments uninhabitable, the Buildings Department said. A fire
department spokesman said yesterday the exact cause of the blaze is still
under investigation.
Gas and water to the six-story building were shut off following a June 11
kitchen fire, according to Con Edison officials.
After the department received notice that repairs had been made, a
supervisor and two mechanics arrived at the building Friday afternoon,
according to Con Ed spokesman Chris Olert.
The group used a portable gauge to test pressure in six "riser" lines that
carry gas into the building and found all six to be in working order, Olert
said. The gas was turned on by 4:13 p.m. The explosion struck 11 minutes
later.
A plumber employed or under contract with building owner Alwall Construction
Corp. was with the crew and was aware the gas had been turned back on, Olert
said. Attempts to reach an Alwall official yesterday were unsuccessful.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Related topic galleries: Consolidated Edison Incorporated, Fires, Emergency
Incidents, Explosions
All topics
JERRYMAC
July 27, 2008
Dozens still displaced after Queens explosion
July 26, 2008
NEW YORK - Dozens of residents are waiting to see when they will be allowed
back into a Queens building rocked by a gas explosion and fire.
Firefighters and city buildings officials continued Saturday to investigate
Friday's blast, which tore apart walls and injured 17 people. Two were
critically hurt; their condition wasn't immediately available from a
hospital Saturday evening.
The Buildings Department says 37 of the Flushing building's roughly 90
apartments remain uninhabitable.
American Red Cross spokesman Harris Bostic says the charity is housing four
families in hotels and provided food and other help to 40 families in the
hours after the blast.
It happened about 10 minutes after natural gas service was restored to part
of the Sanford Avenue building. The gas had been off since a June 11 fire.
July 27, 2008
Councilman calls for probe into Flushing building blast
BY ANDREW STRICKLER | andrew.strickler@newsday.com; The Associa
July 27, 2008
As fire marshals sifted through the wreckage of a Queens building damaged by
a powerful gas explosion on Friday, a city councilman yesterday called for
an investigation into the blast that hurt 17 people, two of them critically.
"Some residents there have been told by people working in the building that
there were serious problems with the gas in the building," said Councilman
John Liu, who represents the area of Flushing where the building is located.
The explosion on Sanford Avenue, apparently sparked in a second-story
apartment kitchen, sent flames shooting into other apartments, buckled walls
and knocked air conditioners out of windows.
Firefighters said two people were critically injured and a third had serious
wounds. Fourteen others, including six firefighters, suffered minor
injuries, the Fire Department said.
The fire caused no structural damage, but charring, water damage, broken
windows and collapsed interior partitions left 37 of the building's roughly
90 apartments uninhabitable, the Buildings Department said. A fire
department spokesman said yesterday the exact cause of the blaze is still
under investigation.
Gas and water to the six-story building were shut off following a June 11
kitchen fire, according to Con Edison officials.
After the department received notice that repairs had been made, a
supervisor and two mechanics arrived at the building Friday afternoon,
according to Con Ed spokesman Chris Olert.
The group used a portable gauge to test pressure in six "riser" lines that
carry gas into the building and found all six to be in working order, Olert
said. The gas was turned on by 4:13 p.m. The explosion struck 11 minutes
later.
A plumber employed or under contract with building owner Alwall Construction
Corp. was with the crew and was aware the gas had been turned back on, Olert
said. Attempts to reach an Alwall official yesterday were unsuccessful.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Related topic galleries: Consolidated Edison Incorporated, Fires, Emergency
Incidents, Explosions
All topics