BELLEVUE, Wash. — Two workers were injured in a gas-line explosion at a building under construction in Bellevue.
- Two plumbers struck a two-inch gas line
- Workers are 45 and 36 years old
- Fireball shot six to eight feet in air, workers say
- Natasha Chen is following investigation for KIRO 7 at 5
The large-diameter gas line explosion happened in the 14300 block of Southeast Eastgate Way around 9:30 a.m.
Puget Sound Energy responded and conducted air monitoring in the area, and crews were working to get gas restored to surrounding buildings after the lines were shut down.
Two plumbers were reportedly in a hole near a dirt mound. They were soldering and hit a live two-inch gas line.
Picking up pieces of workers' uniform and helmet after gas explosion
A photo posted by Natasha Chen (@natashakiro7) on
The gas line was charged; it ruptured and fire could be seen outside the building. Some workers say the flames exploded six to eight feet high.
“If we were dealing with a wood structure, we would have been dealing with a whole different ball game here today,” said Lt. Richard Burke of the Bellevue Fire Department.
>> PHOTOS: 2 hurt in Bellevue gas line explosion
Burke said the fire started creeping inside the building, but crews contained it quickly.
half of his body.
Kevin Tronsdal, 45, is satisfactory and Brandon Springer, 36, is in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center.
Springer was transferred to an intensive care unit.
Springer’s neighbor said he has a young daughter.
“Really hoping that he’s OK, and that he comes back soon, would like to see his smiling face again,” the neighbor said.
The boss of both men said both are doing as well as can be expected, considering the circumstances.
A supervisor said the two men are fathers.
"[One of the workers is] young," said supervisor Kelly King. "Young family, been in the trade for about six years. The other one is very experienced."
He said the men were able to pull themselves out of the hole.
"We do this day in and day out. Never experienced anything like this," King said.
The men are employees of MacDonald-Miller Industries, a subcontractor on the project. Their online records with Labor and Industries does not show records of any inspections within the last six years.
Thinking of the two plumbers burned this morning when a gas line exploded.They were working on renovating a building...
Posted by Natasha Chen on Thursday, June 18, 2015
The general contractor, BN Builders, passed its recent inspections, except in 2010, when it had to correct violations related to the removal of asbestos.
Labor and Industries is investigating.
Supervisor told me the 2 injured men pulled themselves out of the hole even w/burns
A photo posted by Natasha Chen (@natashakiro7) on
PSE released the following statement:
At Puget Sound Energy, the safety of our customers, employees and communities is our top priority. We share everyone’s concern for the two men injured today and hope for their full recovery.
PSE is working with the Bellevue Fire Department, state agencies, and the companies at the location of this morning’s fire in the Eastgate area to better understand what happened. This work is important, and may take time.
It’s not uncommon for other utility work to occur near active natural gas lines. That work is done safely every day. When doing any digging, calling 811 is the first thing that should be done; the “Call Before You Dig” program helps locate underground utilities.
The current project involves retrofitting a vacant building leased by Intellectual Ventures, a Bellevue-based company that buys patents.
A spokesperson for Intellectual Ventures said:
"The building is leased by Intellectual Ventures and is currently unoccupied and being retrofitted. As reported in May 2014, we are relocating and consolidating our lab operations from multiple buildings in Bellevue into a larger building. Specific occupancy dates have not been announced.
"We are working in full cooperation with local police and fire departments as well as the construction contractor who was onsite when the incident occurred. We can confirm that no Intellectual Ventures employees were injured. Our thoughts are with the injured construction workers."