1/14/2005
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Smoke Explosion Rocks Downtown Indianapolis
Firefighters inspect building as smoke comes out of manhole. IFD Photos, Rodger Birchfield
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Jan. 14, 2005) – At a press conference today Indianapolis fire officials said investigators believe the January 8 blast that damaged two buildings in the 100 block of West Market was touched off by a smoke explosion in an underground room.
The explosion was the third reported in a nine-day period. A bookstore and restaurant were damaged. Three people were slightly injured and nearly 400 area customers were without electricity.
When firefighters arrived, brown smoke was coming from a manhole cover in the street. The sound of electrical arching was heard.
Indianapolis Fire Department arson investigators and Indianapolis Power & Light officials said today a short occurred in an underground power line and smoke from smoldering insulation accumulated in the basement room at the book store at 137 W. Market.
Fire Chief James Greeson said the trapped smoke carbon monoxide gas pressurized until it exploded. He said the effect was like a large pressure cooker explosion. The fire chief said when he walked up to the building to view the damage he knew "we were dealing with something we do not normally deal with." The explosion blew out a rear steel security door and raised the three-inch concrete floor.
Arson investigator Lt. Greg Gates said the smoke had combustible gases and believes something touched off the high smoke concentration in the bookstore’s basement. There was no fire in the bookstore.
IPL officials said they might never know what caused the power line to short. One possibility was that water from recent rain and snowmelt might have mixed with road salt creating a solution that is a conductor of electricity.
A crack in the insulation of the wiring may have permitted the water salt solution to come in contact with the wiring causing a short circuit and the insulation around the wiring to burn.
After the Market Street explosion, IPL put 16 teams in the downtown area to inspect manholes for potential problems in underground lines.
Earlier in the week, January 5, a similar incident occurred in the 100 block of West North Street. Occupants of nearby buildings reported an underground explosion.
A firefighter and IPL workers watch smoke coming from a manhole at right and utility grate at left in the 100 block of West North Street
When Indianapolis firefighters arrived, brown smoke was puffing out a manhole in the sidewalk. Before the situation was brought under control the manhole was lifted about three feet by another explosion. No buildings were damaged and no injuries were reported.
Since the two incidents, IPL workers began inspecting the more than 2000 downtown manholes. Four potential problems had been found and repairs were made.
Packing around power lines conduit may have shrunk or cracked allowing smoke and gases to enter the damaged buildings.
Power company workers are also checking all the power line ducts to inspect the packing and install plugs in the ducts to prevent another build up of pressure in a building.
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