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- The Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion and Fire occurred in Edison, New Jersey, on March 23, 1994, where a 36-inch (910 mm) diameter natural gas pipeline broke and exploded into flames next to the Durham Woods apartment complex along New Durham Road at its junction with Interstate 287. The cause of this breakage was given by the NTSB as mechanical damage caused by a backhoe that gauged out 1/4” of steel off the pipe. This was the result of an insurance situation where the owner of a personal vehicle buried their truck to receive insurance monies. This was done on a property adjacent to the complex. The resulting fire destroyed or severely damaged 14 of the apartment buildings. Over 1,500 apartment residents were evacuated, 125 resident apartments, 9 complete buildings, were destroyed and their occupants were left homeless. Miraculously, no one died as a direct result of the explosion. One death occurred from a heart attack suffered by Sandra Snyder, who was unable to summon emergency workers amid the chaos. Sandra and her husband did not live in the complex. He was not able to reach 911 because there were 40,000 calls to 911 in the first few minutes of the explosion. Sandra had just gotten home from the hospital for a heart situation. Because the fire occurred so close to the Durham Woods complex, residents in the area also refer to it as the Durham Woods fire or Durham Woods Explosion. This explosion was the largest gas pipeline explosion of its kind in a highly populated area. Swift action was taken by local authorities as well as the pipeline company who showed complete support for everyone who was effected. On April 19, 1994, a Pipeline Safety Summit was convened on Capital Hill where US Senators, led by Senator Bill Bradley (NJ-D), met to create new regulations. The only US citizen called to testify in these proceedings was Tobi (Glovinsky) Bowen who was thrown from her bed, 200 feet from the main blast, and ran for her life. The result of these proceedings lead to the institution of the national One Call Law, Call Before You Dig, 811 Hotline. Today, April is recognized as National Safe Digging Month. (en)
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- The Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion and Fire occurred in Edison, New Jersey, on March 23, 1994, where a 36-inch (910 mm) diameter natural gas pipeline broke and exploded into flames next to the Durham Woods apartment complex along New Durham Road at its junction with Interstate 287. The cause of this breakage was given by the NTSB as mechanical damage caused by a backhoe that gauged out 1/4” of steel off the pipe. This was the result of an insurance situation where the owner of a personal vehicle buried their truck to receive insurance monies. This was done on a property adjacent to the complex. The resulting fire destroyed or severely damaged 14 of the apartment buildings. Over 1,500 apartment residents were evacuated, 125 resident apartments, 9 compl (en)
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