Horseheads, NY – As a result of an ongoing investigation into the cause of a January 2011 house explosion that killed a toddler, New York State Electric & Gas Corp. plans to replace around 800 natural gas lines in both the Town and Village of Horseheads.
The explosion and ensuing fire at 198 Joseph St. on Jan. 25, 2011, killed 15-month-old Benjamin Reed.
Reed’s mother, Samantha Stratton and her grandfather, Marvin “Butch” Hollister, both suffered serious burns.
NYSEG indicated previously that its own investigation of the explosion indicated the presence of third-party damage to its facilities in the area.
As a result, NYSEG replaced natural gas mains and re-lined natural gas services in the portion of the Village of Horseheads known as the Mayfair Plot.
Additional line replacements will take place this month, according to NYSEG Manager of Corporate Communications Clayton Ellis.
NYSEG excavated and examined a representative sample of medium-pressure natural gas services in various areas of the Town and Village of Horseheads, Ellis said in a news release. As a result of the assessment, NYSEG will replace approximately 800 medium pressure natural gas services in the Town and Village of Horseheads that are adjacent to sewer and/or water utilities. This replacement work will begin in mid-September and will continue until complete.
Affected customers will be notified prior to the work, and the utility will do its best to minimize any inconvenience, Ellis added.
Stratton, Hollister and Benjamin’s father, Andy Reed, filed suit against NYSEG, Chemung County, the Village of Horseheads and the Town of Horseheads, alleging negligence by each.
Horseheads Town Supervisor Michael Edwards said he got unofficial word that NYSEG will be replacing additional natural gas lines.
I’ve heard they were going to do it. Our code person told me, Edwards said. I heard they were going to do it and I said good.