NEAFC 31st Annual Conference.pdf - New England Association of ...

NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS
determine the probable gases which are being or will be distributed in your town and
making your plans accordingly.
For those of you who have natural gas pipelines in your area, I would cite live
principal points to be observed if and when a pipeline break should occur in your area.
First, keep people away from the area of gas leakage an,d keep all sources of fire away.
Second, notify the nearest office of Northeastern Transmission Company or the local
gas company or both. Third, avoid confinement in any area of gaseous atmosphere
where there may be insufficient air for breathing. Fourth, if necessary to enter such
areas, use an air-type gas mask. If possible, check the area for explosive possibilities with
a combustible gas indicator. Fifth, if a fire occurs, extinguish it by one of the following
methods:
A. Dry-type chemicals.. B. Fog nozzles. C. Steam.
We have found that the dry-type chemical is the most effective in extinguishing
gas fires, and that .it is very successful where properly u.sed. You, as firemen, are doubtless
much more familiar with the proper method of application of these various fire-fighting
agents than I am.
In order to provide maximum safety of operation, Northeastern has what we believe
is the most modern equipment available. We maintain regular airplane patrols of
our pipeline by low,flying plane to observe any con, ditions which might create a hazard
to the pipeline. The pilot is equipped with ’short-wave radio, and all of our maintenance
crews have such short-wave radio communication equipment in their trucks and
automobiles. These un.its are in constant communication with central stations at I-I.otliston,
Springfield and Shehon. Any unusual or hazardous conditions observed by the
pilot will be immediately radioed to the nearest maintenance crew and the hazard
taken care of. We have installed automatic closing devices on all pipeline valve’s 16"
and larger in size so that if a break in the pipeline occurs, the valves on each side of
the break will automatically close immediately--thus isolating the break and allowing
the gas to dissipate.
We have installed what is known as telemetering equpiment, whereby we have
a continuous chart record in our Springfield Dispatching Office of pressures at all strategic
points in the pipeline system. The instruments are located at points from Concord,
New Hampshire, to ’Greenwich, Connecticut, and the info,rmation is transmittedby
leased telephone wire. Any unusual conditions in the system are immediately indicated
on the charts in, the Springfield Office, andl maintenance crews are dispatched accordingly.
We maintain operating crews, at Springfield and Holliston, Massachusetts, and
Shelton, Connecticut. In addition, each of our customer companies is a source of quick
contact between us and the public, a’s all are familiar with the location of our pipelines
and the operation of our metering and regulator stations..
Those of you who have pipelines, in your towns are, doubtless, familiar with the
location. However, generally speaking, our pipeline system starts in Berkshire County
at the New York-Ma, sachusetts State line west .of Pittsfield, and runs generally in a
southeasterly direction through the Towns of ’Richmond, Stockbridge, Lee, Tyrringham,
Otis, Sandisfieldl, Tolland, Granville, Southwick, and Agawam to the Connecticut
River. From there it runs generally easterly through Longmeadow, East Longmeadow,
Hamden, Monson, Wales, Tolland, Sturbridge, Charhon, Oxford, Sutton, Lexington,
Burlington, and Wilmington. In Connecticut, the main line system starts in the Towr
of Greenwich and runs northeasterly through Stamford,, New Canaan, Norwalk, West-
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