Roseville Gas Leak Snarls Traffic

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo

MAY 19 – Roseville Fire Department crews responded to a  six-inch natural gas  line leaking at the intersection of Rice Street and County Road B at around 11:00 a.m. today.

Roseville Engine 31 arrived to find a 6″ gas line that was damage during the road construction project causing natural gas to leak into the area.

Fire crews closed down Rice Street and County Road B traffic for more then a couple of  hours, causing significant traffic issues for commuters.

Twin Cities Fire Wire will update this story when more information is available.

Two Gas Main Breaks in Fridley, Roseville

May 19 – Two major gas leaks are causing traffic headaches and evacuations in the North Metro.

The first incident occurred in Roseville at the intersection of Rice Street and County Road B, where the Highway 36/Rice Street construction is taking place. A six-inch main was hit while construction crews were working around 11 :30 a.m.

Fire officials are asking that drivers and onlookers avoid the area. Already a tough area to navigate because of the entrance and exit ramps for Highway 36 as well as the intersections of Rice Street and County Road B are closed.

They expect to be on the scene for several hours as utility works control the leak.

Around 11;45, Fridley Fire crews were called to the 2 1/2 Street and 58th Avenue for a gas main break.

A six-inch line was broken, possibly by crews on a backhoe, and crews from CenterPoint Energy are on scene evaluating.

At least one hoseline has been stretched as a precaution.

Large Scale Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations in St. Anthony, Minneapolis

May 10 – A gas main that was struck during maintenance work caused evacuations in St. Anthony and Minneapolis on Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters remained on the scene for 14 hours to protect utility works that were involved in the massive repair effort.

St. Anthony firefighters were called to the intersection of Stinson Boulevard. and 30th Avenue NE around 2:30 p.m.

Chief John Malenick said that contractors working for CenterPoint Energy were performing routine maintenance when they punctured a four-inch hole in the 12-inch main. The gas was under pressure at 90 psi and people in the area reported a large hissing sound.

The size of the leak prompted evacuations of a four-block area. Since parts of Minneapolis were going to be evacuated, Minneapolis fire crews were summoned to the scene.

The pressure of the blowing gas, coupled with the large size of the hole reduced the immediate danger to residents on the street, according to Malenick.

Saint Anthony struck an all-call and mutual aid was later called from Columbia Heights, New Brighton and Roseville.

CenterPoint officials determined that shutting down the main would impact too large of an area, including Northeast Minneapolis, Columbia Heights and other surrounding communities. They had to cut the line at two locations and create a new line to bypass the leak.

Firefighters staffed hoselines in the areas where workers were making the repairs. “Our priority was to protect the workers,” Malenick said. “They were in an extremely vulnerable position.”

He also said that gas seeping into the ground of the surrounding neighborhoods was a concern, but it was closely monitored.

Malenick said that close to 20 St. Anthony firefighters stayed on scene until the repair was completed and any dangers were removed. The crews were released around 6 a.m.

The Minneapolis Mobile command unit was called to the scene to assist in organizing the large number of agencies, including police, fire, utilities, public works and other support groups. Hennepin EMS crews were also on the scene of the incident.

“It was a tremendous effort on behalf of all agencies who were called out,” Malenick told Twin Cities Fire Wire.

Crews Contain Roseville Dwelling Fire

Roseville Fire Dept. Photo

Roseville Fire Dept. Photo

March 20 – Fire damaged a Roseville home on Sunday afternoon.

Roseville fire crews were dispatched to the 2200 block of Bossard Drive on a report of smoke inside a dwelling.

Upon arrival of the initial assignment, crews confirmed a working fire on the second floor of a two-story split level home.  Additional resources, including auto aid, were requested as crews began an initial attack on the fire.

The resident met firefighters, saying that house was clear of any occupants. He had just returned to the house to find smoke inside the home.

A quick knockdown was made by the initial crews with additional companies assisting with a backup handline, ventilation, overhaul and salvage operations.

• Assignment: Roseville Engines 11, 31, 32, Ladder 38, Rescue 16, Medics 3, 4, 5 Chiefs 1 and 5 and Inspector 1, Lake Johanna Ladder 4, Chief 1.

Weather and Water Hamper St. Paul Crews at Furniture Business Fire

Paul Barrett Photo

Paul Barrett Photo

Paul Barrett Photo

Paul Barrett Photo

With updates added in.

St. Paul firefighters battled frigid weather as they brought a multiple alarm fire under control in a row of businesses Tuesday morning. Low water pressure hampered initial companies in controlling the fire.

Firefighters responded to the Advanced Furniture and Leather Repair at 822 Prior Ave. around 3:20 a.m. Firefighters found heavy fire showing factory area of the one-story building on arrival. A second alarm was called shortly after crews arived.

The row of businesses was seperated by fire walls rated at two hours.

Firefighters moved into the “D” exposure with a handline to try to keep the fire from extending, but they were pulled out as the intensity of the fire grew, St. Paul Fire Public Information Officer Steve Zaccard said.

The roof collapsed about 20 minutes into the fire.

Ladder pipes from Ladders 18 and 20 flowed water into the structure. Crews also utilized portable master streams and hoselines.

“We had difficulty securing enough water for the heavy volume of fire,” Zaccard told Twin Cities Fire Wire. He said a third alarm was called 45 minutes into the fire for additional hoselines.

At 3:45, another fire was reported on Hamline Avenue South. Click here to read more about it.

Two additional engines were called around 5 a.m. for additional hoselines. Zaccard said that one water supply was established 3,000 feet of five-inch hose.

Engine 5 and Squad 1 worked in one of the exposures to knock down the fire. Ladder 8’s crew was assigned to perform a trench cut to prevent the fire from spreading.

At the time of the fire, the temperature was hovering around 10 below zero. The command post was moved to Squad 2’s cab.

One engine reported that their drain was frozen, thus disabling the unit.

Zaccard said that two firefighters suffered frostbite and were treated on scene.

An off-duty district chief was brought back into the city to act as Chief 4 to cover St. Paul.

Minneapolis Engine 21 and Ladder 2 were covering St. Paul Station 14. Units from Maplewood covered Station 17 and Roseville covered  Station 22.

The fire was declared under control about 6 a.m.

Firefighters slowly cleaned up the scene, loading frozen hose onto pickup trucks to thaw.

At 10:45 a.m., command held Engines 5, 13, 14 and 23 to assist with the investigation and demolition of the building.

• Assignment: Engines 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, Ladder 7, 8 10, 18, 20, 22, Squads 1, 2 and 3 Medics 5, 8, Chiefs 1, 2, Car 5

Garage Fire in Shoreview

Firefighters from Lake Johanna and Roseville held an early-evening garage fire to the attached garage in Shoreview Monday night.

Crews were dispatched to 669 Gramsie Rd. at 7:10 p.m.

They found a fire in the attached garage.

• Assignment: Lake Johanna Engines 2, 3, 4, Ladders 3 and 4, Rescue 2, Utility 4, Chiefs 1 and 3. Auto Aid from Roseville: Engine 31, Chief 3 and 6.