Breaking News
Fuel, gas in lethal explosion
JANE IGOE
Wednesday 7 May, 2008 5:01pm
A ROAD worker had a lucky escape and 20 Cremorne residents were evacuated after a bitumen-stripping machine exploded on Monday night.
Police said the machine, which was filled with 1500 litres of fuel, hit an underground gas pipe in Belgrave St just before 9pm on Monday.
Gas workers were not able to turn off the gas until 3.20am.
The man had been working as a level hand behind the bitumen-stripper when the blade hit the gas pipe.
As flames engulfed the vehicle he dived for safety. Police said the man's beard was singed.
The blaze photographed by the Daily's Sara Nixon sent a balloon of gas and hazardous diesel and fumes into the air above residents.
Nine vehicles from Neutral Bay, Mosman, Crows Nest and the Rocks fire stations were called to the scene.
Crows Nest firefighter Ron James said sparks from the stripper's blade may have ignited the main pipe.
A spokeswoman for North Sydney Council said contractors were required to have "comprehensive procedures" in place to identify gas and water pipes. "Before beginning road works contractors should determine the location of all the connections using a sensor and mark these on the roadway," the council's general manager Penny Holloway said. "A street fire such as this is always a concern and it must have been very distressing for residents," Ms Holloway said. She said the accident would be fully investigated. Resident Leigh Schneider, who was passing by at the time, said he was shocked at the ferocity of the fire. He said the area was littered with emergency workers but the explosion was under control very quickly. "I'm amazed that everyone was able to walk away uninjured," he told the Daily.
