Call first before you dig more than 12 inches
Wednesday is the 10-year anniversary of the pipleline explosion in Bellingham -- a tragedy that killed a local teenager and two fourth-grade boys. The failed pipeline spilled more than a quarter of a million gallons of gasoline into Whatcom Creek.
The gasoline ignited, setting off a fireball. Two boys playing along the creek bed were burned and died the next day.
The 18 year old was overcome by fumes while fishing and drowned.
On Wednesday, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., introduced a resolution in Congress to make June 10 National Pipeline Safety Day.
And there's an important lesson here. The pipeline explosion was caused, in part, by a contractor who broke the law by hitting the pipeline and not contacting the pipeline company.
With that in mind, the state utilities commission wants to remind everyone that any time you dig more than 12 inches down, you need to call first to have someone come out and locate any underground utilities.
Call the utilities underground location center, and someone like Tim Schaff will show up at your home or construction site.
Schaff uses a little gizmo to know what's below, and then mark it.
"We break it down. We find all the power lines. We find all the water lines, gas lines, sewer. There's drainage. Basically anything that's underground, we try to find it," he said.
Different colors indicate different utilities. Red is for power. Yellow means natural gas.
Don Evans runs the Utilities Underground Location Center, the folks you call before you dig. He says you never know what's down there, even if it's around the house.
"You're digging in your back yard behind your patio door, away from the front of the house. You're probably thinking you're 100-percent safe. You have no idea what was buried there by the previous owner. You just don't," Evans said.
State law says you must call before you dig if you're going down 12 inches or more.
If you don't call, hit something and cause damage, you will be held liable.
"If you have not called, you could be liable for up to three times the cost of damage and repair," said Amanda Murdock of the state Utilities and Transportation Commission.
So you could be fined. There could be a possible jail time. The consequences are pretty strict if you do not call."
Schaff wants everyone to know the service is free. And he's happy to come out even if he doesn't find anything.
I can't emphasize enough how dangerous it is to dig without having the utilities located. The consequences can be costly in terms of property, money and casualties.
So before you dig 12 inches or more, call 811. It's good insurance and the service is free. By law, you must call two business days before the dig. And yes, you can call even if you aren't going down 12 inches.
And remember this: contractors are always required to call whenever they dig, no matter how deep.
For more information:
Everything About the Call Before You Dig Laws
Underground Damage Prevention
The gasoline ignited, setting off a fireball. Two boys playing along the creek bed were burned and died the next day.
The 18 year old was overcome by fumes while fishing and drowned.
On Wednesday, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., introduced a resolution in Congress to make June 10 National Pipeline Safety Day.
And there's an important lesson here. The pipeline explosion was caused, in part, by a contractor who broke the law by hitting the pipeline and not contacting the pipeline company.
With that in mind, the state utilities commission wants to remind everyone that any time you dig more than 12 inches down, you need to call first to have someone come out and locate any underground utilities.
Call the utilities underground location center, and someone like Tim Schaff will show up at your home or construction site.
Schaff uses a little gizmo to know what's below, and then mark it.
"We break it down. We find all the power lines. We find all the water lines, gas lines, sewer. There's drainage. Basically anything that's underground, we try to find it," he said.
Different colors indicate different utilities. Red is for power. Yellow means natural gas.
Don Evans runs the Utilities Underground Location Center, the folks you call before you dig. He says you never know what's down there, even if it's around the house.
"You're digging in your back yard behind your patio door, away from the front of the house. You're probably thinking you're 100-percent safe. You have no idea what was buried there by the previous owner. You just don't," Evans said.
State law says you must call before you dig if you're going down 12 inches or more.
If you don't call, hit something and cause damage, you will be held liable.
"If you have not called, you could be liable for up to three times the cost of damage and repair," said Amanda Murdock of the state Utilities and Transportation Commission.
So you could be fined. There could be a possible jail time. The consequences are pretty strict if you do not call."
Schaff wants everyone to know the service is free. And he's happy to come out even if he doesn't find anything.
I can't emphasize enough how dangerous it is to dig without having the utilities located. The consequences can be costly in terms of property, money and casualties.
So before you dig 12 inches or more, call 811. It's good insurance and the service is free. By law, you must call two business days before the dig. And yes, you can call even if you aren't going down 12 inches.
And remember this: contractors are always required to call whenever they dig, no matter how deep.
For more information:
Everything About the Call Before You Dig Laws
Underground Damage Prevention
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