Investigators say cut abandoned gas line cause of home explosion

FIRESTONE — Investigators on Tuesday said an abandoned and cut gas line owned by Houston-based Anadarko Petroleum Corp. was the cause of a home explosion April 17 in Firestone that resulted in two deaths.

The Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District, through a joint effort with the Firestone Police Department and with the assistance of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, revealed that odorless gas entered the home’s basement at 6312 Twilight Ave. through a french Drain and sump pit due to a cut, abandoned gas flow line attached to an oil and gas well in the vicinity that, while abandoned, had not been disconnected from the wellhead and capped.

The explosion and fire resulted in the deaths of brothers-in-law Mark Martinez and Joey Irwin and injuries to Erin Martinez, Mark’s wife, and their 11-year-old son.

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An adjacent home also briefly caught fire, but crews were able to put it out, preventing the spread of the fire.

After the explosion, Anadarko (NYSE: APC) shut down 3,000 wells of a vintage similar to the one near the explosion. On Tuesday, the company released the following statement:

“I know I speak for everyone at Anadarko when I say that our thoughts and prayers remain with the Martinez and Irwin families as they continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones,” said Al Walker, Anadarko’s chairman, president and chief executive.

“The safety of our employees and the people who live and work in the communities in which we operate is our number one priority. Consistent with that, and out of an abundance of caution, last week we shut in our vertical wells in the Oak Meadows area and throughout the basin.

“We hope that doing so also provided some additional reassurance to the community in the wake of this tragic accident. We will continue to take all necessary and appropriate steps in that regard, and will continue to cooperate fully with all ongoing investigations to ensure we fully understand the basis for the fire district’s conclusions and that no stone is left unturned prior to any final determinations.”

The company also will continue to work with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on additional steps or actions the agency deems necessary.

The investigation will be turned over to the Firestone Police Department for the next phase of the investigation, which is an official death investigation. Upon completion of that phase, the Firestone Police Department will turn the matter over to the Weld County District Attorney’s Office.