Hawaii Gas crews worked overnight Tuesday to restore service to the five homes and two businesses in Kapahulu that have been without service since a road resurfacing company cut into a 4-inch line, causing a spectacular fire that burned for nearly six hours and could be seen for miles.
Alan Tang, Hawaii Gas spokesman, said service was restored at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The gas company is "still working on the incident investigation and damage assessment" and is unable to say how long it will take to replace the natural gas line, Tang said.
Initial damage estimates are $700,000, mainly for the burned milling machine that removes old asphalt from the road.
Mauka-bound lanes of Kapahulu Avenue were closed and traffic was diverted around the repair work at Date Street and Kapahulu Avenue Wednesday morning as crews continued fixing the road, gas pipe and telephone lines. The lanes were reopened Wednesday night.
The fire was reported at 9:24 p.m. Monday after an asphalt milling machine operated by Road Builders struck a gas line near the Date Street intersection, sparking a blaze. The company is contracted by the city to repave Kapahulu Avenue.
The 4-inch steel gas pipe, installed in 1977, was just 7 to 8 inches below the surface of the road. Most gas lines are about 3 feet below the road.
Paramedics took two workers to the hospital, one in serious condition. A worker who fell from the milling equipment was released, while the other worker, who suffered burns, remains in the hospital.
Firefighters extinguished the fire at 3:14 a.m. Tuesday after gas company workers cut off the gas to the area.
Workers also contained runoff from the fire containing diesel fuel, oil and asphalt Tuesday and worked to clean up the spill.
The Fire Department notified the state Department of Health’s Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office and the Coast Guard of the potential for 200 gallons of diesel fuel, 80 gallons of hydraulic oil and an undetermined amount of asphalt being released from the milling machine going down the storm drain that leads to the Ala Wai Canal.
Oil sheens were seen on the surface of the Ala Wai Canal and boons and pads were placed at the mouth of Ala Wai Harbor.
The Health Department said different agencies checked the area, but didn’t find any impact on wildlife. The department will continue to monitor for the next few days.
Hawaiian Telcom spokeswoman Su Shin said the fire caused 10 businesses and seven residential customers to lose telephone and/or Internet service. They remained without service Wednesday.
Hawaiian Telcom crews were unable to work on Tuesday to restore service because they had to wait for gas company crews to do their work first.
On Wednesday, they replaced the cables melted by the fire. Crews were diverted to another set of damaged cables on Kalakaua Avenue. They will return Thursday to complete the Kapahulu job.
