Connecticut State Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection

Connecticut State Police Patch STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Department of Public Safety
1111 Country Club Road
Middletown, Connecticut 06457		  
Contact: 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2010
                        Troopers from Office of State Fire Marshal Conduct Propane Investigation
   On 09/02/10, the Office of the State Fire Marshal was made aware of an incident that occurred in Norfolk, Massachusetts, on July 31, 2010, in which a propane explosion killed an electrician on a construction site.  During the Massachusetts investigation of the incident, it was learned that the propane appliance that was found to be leaking, causing the explosion, was being fed by a propane gas tank that contained a low amount, or possibly no, odorant.  It was determined that the propane that contained the low odorant was distributed from a bulk storage facility in Westfield, Massachusetts.  That facility also provides bulk propane to 20 distribution depots in Connecticut.  These distributors were identified and all were made aware of the incident. 

   Troopers from the Connecticut Office of State Fire Marshal, along with representatives from the CT. DEP, were assigned to respond to each of the 20 bulk facilities in Connecticut to conduct chemical tests to verify that the required odorant was present within the bulk propane gas storage units, as this gas is later shipped throughout Connecticut.

   During the testing, nine of the facilities did not pass a field test and further testing was conducted using the DEP mobile lab which confirmed that the propane did not fall within the accepted required levels.  The following distribution depots were issued a cease and desist order and will be required to provide the Office of the State Fire Marshal  third party testing and documentation showing that the odorant has been added to the propane gas product waiting to be delivered.  In addition the companies all bear the responsibility of notifying their costumers that have received deliveries that they have received a defective product and that the companies will be adding the odorant to the propane product.   

The Daniels Propane Co., 201 Main St., Cromwell

Beemers Propane, 210 Commerce St., Glastonbury

All Gas Propane of Bloomfield

Suburban Propane of Derby

Amerigas, 275 S. Main St., Colchester

Amerigas, 400 Hartford Tpke., Hampton

Amerigas, 400 Eagles Nest Rd., Bridgeport

Hocon Gas, 106 Harris Dr., Torrington

Superior Propane, 7 Frog Hallow La Ellington

   Inspectors from the Bureau of Engineering assisted with contacting the Connecticut vendors to conduct the voluntary testing.   All of the local fire marshals were made aware of the incident and the findings of the DEP testing. 

   An investigation is continuing and is being conducted by Troopers from the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Press Release from Dept. of Consumer Protection

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Lt. J.Paul Vance