Santa Ynez, California Gas Leak Closes Part of Highway 246. A Construction Crew Hit a 4-inch Gas Line Causing the Leak.

Santa Ynez, California Gas Leak Closes Part of Highway 246.  A Construction Crew Hit a 4-inch Gas Line Causing the Leak. 

January 19, 2015

SANTA YNEZ, Calif. -
A gas leak just outside the Chumash Casino in the Santa Ynez Valley prompted the closure of Highway 246 from Edison to Cuesta streets. Any traffic in the area was diverted.
Santa Barbara County firefighters responded to the gas leak was reported at about 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Capt. David Sadecki with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said a construction crew hit a gas pipe effectively breaking it.

Michael Gammon, who lives along one of the neighborhoods where cars from Highway 246 were being re-routed to said,"This reminds me of the bay area traffic, there was scores and scores of cars coming here." "We  found out from someone when we were walking home  they said  don’t walk that way because there’s a gas leak at the casino."

Gammon said, "This is the most traffic we’ve ever seen on this road."
Cpt. Michael Read was at the scene he said, "It didn’t completely severe the pipe,  it’s probably what I can see maybe a 4 inch hole in the side of the pipe."

The gas company took several hours to shut down the gas leak.

Texas tops list of most U.S. traffic deaths in construction work zones

Texas tops list of most U.S. traffic deaths in construction work zones

January 07, 2015

The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse has released the latest data tally of deaths in motor vehicle traffic crashes in construction work zones, broken down by state.

Of 32,719 traffic fatalities in 2013, 579 occurred in work zones. Texas topped the list, with 104 fatalities occurring in a work zone. The NWZSIC pulls the data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Rounding out the top five were Florida, 69 fatalities; California, 51 fatalities; Illinois, 30 fatalities and Georgia, 23 fatalities. Only Vermont and Washington, D.C. had no work zone fatalities.

The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse is a project of the American Road and Transportation Builders’ Association’s Transportation Development Foundation.

You can see the top 10 states with the most work zone traffic fatalities in the chart below and you can see all 50 states by clicking here.

Construction worker crushed to death by crane near St. Louis

Construction worker crushed to death by crane near St. Louis in Edwardsville, Illinois

January 13, 2015

Jokerst was killed by the boom of a Grove HL150 similar to this.

A worker near St. Louis was killed Monday in a crane accident.

According to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 31-year-old Justin D. Jokerst was working on a jobsite for a 500,000 square-foot addition to a commercial warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois.

Authorities told the paper Jokerst was “working on a large Grove HL150…when he was crushed by the weight of the crane’s boom,” around 11 a.m.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Jokers worked for Taylor Crane in St. Louis.

It’s unclear just what led to the mishap but the Occupational Safety and Health

3 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS INJURED IN MARYLAND AFTER TWO MEN FELL FROM SCAFFOLDING AT THE SITE WITH THE THIRD MAN FOUND IN THE FALLEN DEBRIS.

3 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS INJURED IN MARYLAND AFTER TWO MEN FELL FROM SCAFFOLDING AT THE SITE WITH THE THIRD MAN FOUND IN THE FALLEN DEBRIS.

CUMBERLAND, MD — Three workers constructing a new church facility on Williams Road on Monday were transported to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center after two men fell from scaffolding at the site with the third man found in the fallen debris.

The Allegany County 911 Center was called at 11:18 a.m. to respond to the accident which took place at the site of the Cumberland Seventh Day Adventist Church at 12235 Williams Road.

A new combination church, fellowship hall and classrooms are under construction directly beside the current church sanctuary.

A church member who was inside the current church did not see the accident occur. However, he provided some background on the construction project underway on the church’s grounds.

“They have been delivering trusses today. It’s been pretty gusty,” said the church member, who wished to remain anonymous.

The injured workers were transported to the hospital by the District 16 Volunteer Fire Company and Valley Medical Transport.

“They’re 60-foot trusses. Trusses can be vulnerable until you get the stringers up and plywood,” said the church member.

A visit to the site revealed fallen trusses and numerous wooden support planks and plywood collapsed in a wide section between the middle and back portion of the facility.

The Cumberland Seventh Day Adventist Church had been formerly located at 800 Hilltop Drive. The expansion of the facility on Williams Road was expected to be completed this year.

CAT RESCUED AS FIRE GUTS WOONSOCKET HOME IN RHODE ISLAND

CAT RESCUED AS FIRE GUTS WOONSOCKET HOME IN RHODE ISLAND

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — Firefighters responded to Wood Avenue in Woonsocket early Monday to douse heavy flames that were shooting through the roof of a three-story home.
Crews were alerted to the fire shortly before 7:30 a.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls. Assuring all the residents were safely out of the building, firefighters started an interior attack. However, they too were evacuated from the burning building twice.

“It’s a stubborn fire,” Chief Paul Shatraw told Eyewitness News. “Because it’s such a small space in the attic, it’s very difficult to fight.”
Firefighters managed to rescue a cat from one of the apartments, and provided it it with oxygen. The cat’s owner says they tried to find him before thick smoke forced them to flee the building. He and his family were relieved to see their pet was saved.

“He’s a part of the family,” Michael Burke said. “He’s a little burnt up, and he’s probably a little scared, but he’s going to be okay.”
Officials say 13 people have been displaced, and are currently being assisted by the Red Cross. The State Fire Marshal is investigating what may have sparked the flames.