# Gas explosion in Durham North Carolina **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 10, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346 "2019-04-10T18:08:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/1 "2019-04-10T18:08:16Z")
Thankfully only 1 person killed, but many injuries. Lot of damage to surrounding buildings. [https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/04/10/us/durham-explosion-north-carolina/index.html](https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/04/10/us/durham-explosion-north-carolina/index.html) > [@](#): > > The blast occurred about 10:27 a.m. when a contractor boring under the sidewalk hit a 2-inch gas line, said Durham police spokesman Wil Glenn. > > Fifteen people were transported to area hospitals, and the firefighter suffered serious injuries, he said. > \ > “Half the block is destroyed,” Jim Rogalski told CNN via text message. “Lots of injuries. Our office across the street was blown out. It was terrifying. Glass and debris everywhere. No one killed in our office but several injuries – deep cuts, head lacerations.” ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/2 "2019-04-10T18:23:52Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > The blast occurred about 10:27 a.m. when a contractor boring under the sidewalk hit a 2-inch gas line… Is this one of those things where the contractor supposed to call the utility company to come out and mark the locations of underground gas/electric lines before any digging started, but they skipped that step? Or did the utility company mark the wrong location for the gas line (or not mark it all)? I suspect the above won’t be known for some time, but what’s usually the case when something like this happens? Who gets the Finger of Scorn? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/3 "2019-04-10T18:26:39Z")
This hits very close to home. Two weeks ago, we had a trucker in Camden AR killed when his brakes caught the tires on fire. His load of ammonium nitrate exploded. Leaving a huge crater in the highway and flattening trees in a wide area. Ammonium nitrate is what the Oklahoma City bomber used in to take down the Alfred P Murrah Federal building in 1995. Killing 168 and wounding 680 others. Ammonium nitrate can be a extremely powerful explosive. > **[Trucker killed in Arkansas explosion sacrificed himself to save others](https://cdllife.com/2019/trucker-killed-in-arkansas-explosion-sacrificed-himself-to-save-others/?amp)** > > A truck driver who lost his life in a hazmat explosion in Arkansas last week died trying to save as many people as possible, according to those at the scene. > [@](#): > > Randall McDougal, who died trying to save other people from the massive explosion. > > Around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27, McDougal was hauling a load of ammonium nitrate from El Dorado to Texarkana when he noticed that his brakes had caught fire. Realizing how dangerous the situation was, McDougal called 911 and then parked at a remote location on Highway 278. > > After parking, KATV reports that multiple witnesses said that rather than fleeing the scene, McDougal worked to get others away from the truck and was attempting to put out the brake fire when the explosion happened. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/4 "2019-04-10T18:30:31Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Is this one of those things where the contractor supposed to call the utility company to come out and mark the locations of underground gas/electric lines before any digging started, but they skipped that step? Or did the utility company mark the wrong location for the gas line (or not mark it all)? > > I suspect the above won’t be known for some time, but what’s usually the case when something like this happens? Who gets the Finger of Scorn? Probably so. Call before you dig is a nationwide program. I bought two trees from a nursery and they wouldn’t plant them until Call before you dig marked the buried utilities on the property. They used different color spray paints for gas, electric,and water. These trees were in 15 gal pots. Not a big hole, but still required call before you dig. [http://call811.com/before-you-dig/do-i-really-need-call](http://call811.com/before-you-dig/do-i-really-need-call) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/5 "2019-04-10T18:51:56Z")
Holy crap. I cant imagine what that sounded and felt like. Any Doper’s in the area? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/6 "2019-04-10T19:12:57Z")
Well shit - that’s right by Brightleaf Square, which is a nice collection of shops and restaurants. There’s also some fairly expensive new apartments and condos there, along with some Duke University offices. My hairdresser is about a block away. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/7 "2019-04-10T19:17:50Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > This hits very close to home. Two weeks ago, we had a trucker in Camden AR killed when his brakes caught the tires on fire. His load of ammonium nitrate exploded. Leaving a huge crater in the highway and flattening trees in a wide area. > > Ammonium nitrate is what the Oklahoma City bomber used in to take down the Alfred P Murrah Federal building in 1995. Killing 168 and wounding 680 others. Ammonium nitrate can be a extremely powerful explosive. > > [Trucker killed in Arkansas explosion sacrificed himself to save others](https://www.google.com/amp/s/cdllife.com/2019/trucker-killed-in-arkansas-explosion-sacrificed-himself-to-save-others/amp/) From the article: > [@CDL Life News](#): > > McDougal’s son Jason McDougal says…“Most legends when they leave this earth leave their mark for eternity for everyone to see, and that’s what my father did,” he said. Sad for the loss of life, and not intending to disrespect the memory of a guy who sacrificed himself to protect others - but it was hard to keep from snickering when reading that quote directly below the photo of that gigantic smoking crater. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/8 "2019-04-10T19:21:52Z")
If you contact any utility companies for the location of their substructures, you will be referred to “USA 1-800” which is indeed the “call before you dig” catchphrase. USA in this instance stands for “Underground Service Alert.” And yes, they are the ones with the pretty, color-coded spraypaints. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/9 "2019-04-10T19:37:57Z")
[This is the building that blew up](https://www.google.com/maps/@35.9998241,-78.9079092,3a,75y,325.82h,87.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2m06_2p4O-67Q1iapxqRTg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en). ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/10 "2019-04-10T19:39:17Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Holy crap. I cant imagine what that sounded and felt like. > Any Doper’s in the area? 7 miles, as the crow flies. I didn’t hear or feel anything, but someone who was in my office had a friend in the area, and got a pic texted to her phone. Rubble covering the sidewalk and a column of thick black smoke. While unlikely, I hope nobody I know was terribly affected. But seeing how the community is coming together warms my heart. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/11 "2019-04-10T20:13:10Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Well shit - that’s right by Brightleaf Square, which is a nice collection of shops and restaurants. There’s also some fairly expensive new apartments and condos there, along with some Duke University offices. My hairdresser is about a block away. I’d call ahead before making shopping & restaurant plans. It’ll take a few days? Maybe a week?, to replace all the store front glass and clean up the businesses. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/12 "2019-04-10T21:43:08Z")
There’s also a non-descript building there that houses [a rather impressive Porsche collection](https://www.porschesouthpoint.com/porsche-southpoint---ingram-collection-collaboration.htm). No word on what, if any, damage that suffered. Also sounds like the burn unit at UNC is going to be busy. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![PackerMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@PackerMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PackerMan)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/13 "2019-04-10T21:54:44Z")
There aren’t many details yet, but the most likely scenario is that the contractor was directionally boring when they hit the gas facility. The facility was likely located by the utility. The contractor is required to open a spot hole where the bore head will cross the facility to ensure it doesn’t come into contract with it. They likely skipped this step and assumed they were above or below it. Locates do not include depth and most locating equipment is not that accurate in terms of depth. When the gas line was struck, the gas likely migrated into the building via a sewer line or some other conduit. This is the case in the vast majority of these incidents. It is 99% that the contractor is at fault. Even if the utility failed to locate their facilities in the mandated timeframe, contractors are required to postpone excavation until the facilities are located or an all clear is given. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/14 "2019-04-10T21:59:48Z")
Mapping of underground utilities can be, um, vague. I’ve seen all types of ways to locate underground lines, including welding rods used like divining rods. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/15 "2019-04-10T22:02:31Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > There’s also a non-descript building there that houses [a rather impressive Porsche collection](https://www.porschesouthpoint.com/porsche-southpoint---ingram-collection-collaboration.htm). No word on what, if any, damage that suffered. Also sounds like the burn unit at UNC is going to be busy. ☹ The car museum was at least damaged. [Here](https://i.imgur.com/tpWFT87.png) is a picture of the collapsed roof. Apparently the death toll is now 2 persons. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/16 "2019-04-10T22:05:31Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Holy crap. I cant imagine what that sounded and felt like. You probably can. Remember that boom-y thing that put your cat on the ceiling a couple of weeks ago? Like that. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/17 "2019-04-10T22:08:56Z")
> [@Scoobysnax](#): > > The car museum was at least damaged. [Here](https://i.imgur.com/tpWFT87.png) is a picture of the collapsed roof. > > Apparently the death toll is now 2 persons. I was wondering if that red thing in the pic might be a car. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/18 "2019-04-10T22:09:45Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > [This is the building that blew up](https://www.google.com/maps/@35.9998241,-78.9079092,3a,75y,325.82h,87.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2m06_2p4O-67Q1iapxqRTg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en). Which one? the one with the sign giving the address as 111 North Duke St, or the one (ironically, as it turns out) labeled “Prescient”? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/19 "2019-04-10T22:19:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Which one? the one with the sign giving the address as 111 North Duke St, or the one (ironically, as it turns out) labeled “Prescient”? Prescient. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346/20 "2019-04-10T22:31:18Z")
[Here’s what Prescient looks like now](https://photos.app.goo.gl/3EN9APRLR4U2PiXNA) (screencap from video). 111 N. Duke got some damage too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-explosion-in-durham-north-carolina/832346.md?page=2)