photo by Bruce Garner
Terry Poss, 61, an employee with the Chattanooga Gas Company was injured Friday morning when fire broke out at the company's bulk storage facility at 3401 North Hawthorne St.
Mark Starrett, a technician with the company, said a couple of workers were "purging a valve" to remove contaminants from a gas line when a flash fire occurred. Mr. Poss was seriously burned.
Chief Ken Wilkerson with Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services said Mr. Poss had first, second and third degree burns to his head, shoulders, arms, hands and back. EMS transported the victim to Erlanger Medical Center. Mr. Poss was listed in stable condition late Friday afternoon at Erlanger Medical Center.
Immediately after the fire broke out, Battalion Chief Mike Knox said company technicians used fixed water cannons in an effort to contain the fire, and then evacuated the site. The Chattanooga Fire Department received the alarm at 11:11 a.m. and responded with several engine companies, including the haz-mat team. Upon arrival, Chattanooga firefighters used master streams from their apparatus to contain the fire, and protect nearby pipes, tanks and fittings from overheating. Chief Knox said that at 11:54 a.m., the leak was isolated and the fire was completely extinguished. No other injuries were reported, and an evacuation of nearby homes and businesses was not deemed necessary.
The Chattanooga Gas Company is actually owned by AGL (Atlanta Gas & Light) Resources. Gas company representatives and regulatory agencies such as OSHA will be investigating the incident. Chattanooga Police and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue also provided assistance on the scene.
photo by Lt. Seth Miller