Nevada Fire Department

Nevada Fire Department Investigates Gas Odors
Chief Dana Wipperman

NEVADA COMMUNITY

FIRE DEPARTMENT

FIRE CHIEF ¨C DANA WIPPERMAN

MEDIA RELEASE

Hazardous Conditions Investigation ¨C 2^{nd & Lincoln Highway ¨C January 11, 2010}

On January 3 and January 9, 2010, the Nevada Community Fire Department responded to two homes in the 100 and 200 block of Lincoln Highway on the report of strong odors in the basement of the residences. The fire department investigation at both of those residences detected no explosive mixture of vapors and air. Occupants of both residences were instructed to run water in the floor drain and open windows to the home as needed. A specialist from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources was on the scene of the fire department¡¯s January 3rd odor investigation.

On Monday, January 11th, Nevada Fire Chief Dana Wipperman contacted the DNR specialist as a result of the odor investigation from January 9th. Two specialists from the DNR traveled to Nevada the afternoon of the 11th. City fire, streets, and water department officials met with the DNR officials at 2nd & Lincoln Highway. The manhole cover at 2nd & Lincoln Highway was opened and vapors consistent with a petroleum product were detected. The man hole opening has been venting since Monday afternoon the 11th. The investigating officials also observed a gasoline leak at the western most pump at Kum & Go West. One DNR official ordered Kum & Go to initiate immediate testing on the property. Later in the evening of Monday the 11th, officials from Seneca Environmental Services in Des Moines were on site and flushed water in the storm sewer at 2nd & Lincoln Highway.

Seneca and City officials were on the site of Kum & Go West most of the day on Tuesday the 12th and Wednesday the 13th. A second flushing of the storm sewer was conducted again on Wednesday the 13th. Seneca officials also drilled test holes in the parking lot of Kum & Go West. These test holes revealed raw petroleum product in the ground under the parking lot.

Thursday the 14th, Seneca officials initiated excavation procedures. One of these procedures will include the installation of a vapor evacuation fan in the ground that will continually pump vapors out of the ground. Subsequent testing by Seneca official will determine if additional test or excavations will be required.

During the course of the week, Nevada Fire Chief Dana Wipperman conducted six additional odor investigations inside residences in the 100 to 200 block of Lincoln Highway, as well as in the 1100 block of 3rd Street. At no time during any of these investigations was an explosive mixture of vapors and oxygen detected by the fire department¡¯s multi-gas detector. No imminent threat to the safety of occupants of any of these homes or the general public ever existed.

Wipperman advises residents that at anytime they experience odors in their homes and experience headaches or nausea as a result of odors, immediately call 911 and exit your residence. For additional information relating to these incidents, please contact the Nevada Fire Chief at 515-382-4593 or via email at nevadafire@midiowa.net.

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Issued by: DANA WIPPERMAN

FIRE CHIEF

NEVADA COMMUNITY FIRE DEPARTMENT

Date: January 14, 2010

Article Published: 01-14-2010