Questar says blasts extremely rare

SOUTH WEBER, Davis County — Questar officials said Sunday the natural gas pipeline break and resulting destruction of a home here Saturday night was an "extremely rare" event.

"It hardly ever happens," company spokesman Steve Chapman said of the circumstances that led to the explosion and fire that destroyed Luana Fowers' house.

Fortunately, Fowers was out of the home at the time, attending the 75th birthday party thrown for her by her children in Mountain Green. And her dog, Shadow, was found by a neighbor and her 4-year-old daughter about 9 a.m. Sunday when they took their own dog outside.

Shadow's hair was slightly burned and the poodle was cold and hungry, but the Markham family took good care of the dog for an hour until Davis County sheriff's deputies arrived to reunite the dog with Fowers.

A total of 210 homes in several South Weber subdivisions were evacuated after the explosion, which occurred about 6:20 p.m. Questar crews were able to shut off the leak by 8:45 p.m., and the last of the 210 evacuated families were allowed back in their homes around 1 a.m. Sunday, company and sheriff's officials said. And only one neighboring house experienced a temporary disconnection of natural gas service.

Chapman said "there is no obvious cause that has been determined" as to why a 14-inch main pipeline apparently burst. The pipeline is buried about 5 feet beneath the surface of 7600 South, and the rupture occurred in front of Fowers' home at 1745 E. 7600 South, between 30 and 50 feet from her house.

Chapman speculated leaking gas may have traveled through the soil or a sewer line and into Fowers' home, and that an existing ignition source — such as a pilot light on a furnace or water heater — may have set off the explosion.

"Obviously, somehow, the gas migrated into her home," Chapman said. "The (Questar) people I've talked to, nobody ever recalls this kind of a break in a high-pressure line. We have gas leaks, but even they are infrequent and generally don't result in property damage."

Chapman said Questar is conducting its own investigation into the line break and an independent investigation also is under way by the Utah Office of Pipeline Safety. Chapman said he did not know whether the loss of Fowers' home was covered by homeowners insurance or whether Questar would have any involvement in helping Fowers' rebuild or relocate.

"If there is any liability, it will have to be established," he said. "We're a stand-up company. If it comes out, obviously, that we have some liability, then we'll step up to the plate, but it's too premature at this point to speculate."