New Orleans, LA. – On Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 8:17 a.m., the New Orleans Fire Department responded to a 911 call for 2123 Bienville Street.
Upon arriving on the scene firefighters found a male being treated by EMS for burns. Three contractors were renovating a one story, wood frame shot gun double home. One worker cut a gas line which caused a flash fire, burning his face and parts of his upper body. The injured worker had cut the gas line from the supply side. He was transported by EMS with second and third degree burns. There was a small fire burning in the home and firefighters noticed there was still a faint odor of gas in the structure. As one firefighter checked under the house another flash fire occurred, causing minor burns to his head and face area. The Incident Commander ordered and evacuation of the structure and the next door neighbor’s home. As firefighters came out from the side of the house, another flash fire occurred before all could exit resulting in minor burns to the head and neck area of another firefighter. Representatives from Entergy Gas arrived on the scene to disconnect the gas line from under ground. The injured civilian has been air lifted to the Burn Center in Baton Rouge, LA. The two injured firefighters are being treated locally and are scheduled to be released from the hospital later today.
