UPDATED on 6/6/24 with OFD Run Report and Investigation
I have written about the risks associated with wanting to use larger CO2 containers in the restaurant industry. The IFC now has a section on the hazards associated with these larger cylinders. Still, most of the code deals with CO2 leaks causing an oxygen-deficient atmosphere, much like what happened in AZ McDonalds.
But there is another catastrophic risk associated with these “dewars”… vessel failure. This is what happened in this event at a restaurant over the weekend.
A “dewar” stores the CO2 in a pressurized liquid state, so much more volume is available than the older CO2 compressed gas cylinders. This improves “efficiency” but also increases risks in an industry where workers are usually not aware of the risks.
The failure mode of this dewar is unknown, but we can see from the images and video that it appears to be a failure of the bottom weld, which launched the container upward through the building, landing in the parking lot some 300′ away. It destroyed the restaurant (empty at the time of the event) and cause serious structural damage.
More pictures in this News Video and this News Report
2023 Incident at a Restaurant/Bar (much smaller compressed gas cylinder failure)
5/4/2024 UPDATE: the container traveled ~ 486′ as shown in the Google image to the left
The cylinder was stored against the wall next to the compactor outside. I still have not heard if it was being filled or in use at the time of the event.
Incident Report
2024-0019213 -000
City of Orlando Fire Department
Printed: 06/03/2024 09:54:57
Number of Pages: 9
Basic
Alarm Date and Time 18:25:22 Saturday, April 20, 2024
Arrival Time 18:30:51
Controlled Date and Time
Last Unit Cleared Date and Time 20:35:12 Saturday, April 20, 2024
Response Time 0:05:29
Priority Response Yes
Completed Yes
Reviewed Yes
Fire Department Station 10
Shift A
Incident Type 200 – Overpressure rupture, explosion, overheat other
Aid Given or Received N – None
Action Taken 1 86 – Investigate
Action Taken 2 451 – Controlled Utilities
Action Taken 3 20 – Search & rescue, other
Casualties No
Apparatus – Suppression 12
Personnel – Suppression Personnel 34
Property Use 449 – Hotel/motel, commercial
Location Type Address
Address 7299 UNIVERSAL BLVD
City, State Zip Orlando, FL 32819
Latitude 28.4578475
Longitude -081.463378
Author Assignment 1
E10 arrived on scene to a multi story hotel with no conditions found. OPD on scene putting up crime scene tape for area denial on delta side of building. E10 crew w/ T10 found extensive exterior and interior damage to a commercial kitchen located on delta side. Debris from explosion was spread out in approx. 500 foot area outside building. E10 assisted T10 with safing the immediate area, evacuating people from affected area, and controlling utilities. Scene was turned over to Arson investigator and on premise maintenance.
Narrative Name T10
Narrative Type Incident
Narrative Date 21:48:05 Saturday, April 20, 2024
Author 33393 – ALLEN, NATHAN P
Author Rank ENGEMT
Author Assignment 1
T10 arrived to find OPD on scene and a large debris field which appeared to be from an explosion of some type. After investigating it appeared that some form of pressurized container ruptured on the exterior wall of the restaurant attached to the hotel. There was sever structural damage to the building and the immediate area. T10 controlled utilities to the area and evacuated the area. T10 got an all clear of the affected rooms. T10 met with the building engineer and maintenance. elevators were shut down and building management was advised to keep the affected area clear of traffic.
Narrative Name T6
Narrative Type Incident
Narrative Date 09:01:15 Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Author 10812 – VERBAL, RONALD W
Author Rank LTPM
Author Assignment 1
T6 was requested to respond to post blast event with Bomb Tech assigned to T6. Upon arrival I (Lt Verbal#10812) met with command and began with viewing cctv of area
that that damaged and the event that caused the damage. I also spoke with General Manager, Mike Gush who stated there had been no negative pre-incident with staff or guest. I went to furthest area of the incident which was the Co2 container that was found approximately 100 yards away to the south. The tank appeared to have failed from the bottom. The released energy propelled the tank to its resting area after coming into contact with the asphalt parking lot where it appeared had sheared off the valves that were located in and near the crater. I then went to the area of origin were the tank normally is. The block wall that was next to the tank had been breached from the energy released from the tank from bottom of wall was wider than the top, like a tepee. Matching the tank damage that the tank failed from the bottom. The block wall damaged breached the interior, destroyed a walk-in cooler that was on the next interior wall. causing significant damage to the structure. From where the tank normally sits there is no shad for most all of the day the tank is in full sun. My working hypothesis is that the gas inside the tank heated up from the sun and the pressure relief valve possibly failed. to operate bringing the internal pressure enough that the tank failed at the weakest point at the bottom I passed my finding onto the Lead investigator Lt Springer, Arson 4. and left the scene with A4
Narrative Name ARS4
Narrative Type Incident
Narrative Date 08:11:38 Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Author 18518 – TINETTI, TODD
Author Rank LTPM
Author Assignment 8
Narrative Text INCIDENT:
At approximately 1825 hours on April 20, 2024, the Orlando Fire Department (OFD) responded to a service call located at 7299 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819.
INVESTIGATION:
I, Lieutenant Larry Springer (16795), was dispatched to conduct an origin and cause investigation at the aforementioned location. Upon arrival, I conferred with District Chief Schaumann (11821), who briefed me on the actions of the first arriving units and the status of the scene. DC Schaumann escorted me to the area he believes to be the origin of what may have been an explosion and explained that it is believed to have been the location where a large CO2 storage cylinder was housed, which has been found in a paved parking lot approximately 500 feet away. I continued my investigation by documenting the scene through photography, beginning at the CO2 storage cylinder on the adjacent property at 7395 Universal Blvd.
SCENE DESCRIPTION:
An explosion occurred on the exterior, delta side, at ground level, of a masonry construction, high-rise hotel. The hotel appears to be fully operational and well-kept. The area from which the explosion occurred houses, amongst other things, a trash compactor and other waste receptacles. Upon my arrival, the scene was surrounded by crime scene tape, and the hotel had been evacuated.
EXTERIOR OBSERVATION:
The exterior of the damaged hotel property appears to be orderly and well-kept. The obvious damage caused by the explosion is limited to the delta wall and the surrounding materials, both interior and exterior. The exterior scene was documented through photography, starting at the cylinder, now located on the adjacent property, and progressing to the area of origin and its surroundings. The exterior wall suffered major structural damage, including the destruction or removal of multiple masonry blocks and a separation of the wall.
INTERIOR OBSERVATION:
The damage to the interior of the hotel appears to be confined to the area surrounding the kitchen on the delta wall. A freezer room has completely collapsed, with the door removed
from its hinges. Much of the ceiling material has fallen, and the floors are strewn with debris, kitchen utensils, and storage items.
AREA OF ORIGIN:
The area of origin is determined to be on the delta side of the structure, at ground level, on the wall shared with the kitchen. The damage within the blast radius is confined to the areas of the interior that share the delta wall with the kitchen, including the delta wall itself. There is no obvious exterior damage other than the walls themselves and the damaged cylinder.
INTERVIEW:
An interview was conducted with the following individual. All interviews occurred on body-worn camera (BWC) and can be reviewed for specific content. The following
interview excerpts are paraphrased and do not represent verbatim accounts of the statements provided. An interview was conducted with the hotel manager, Michael Gush, who stated, on
(BWC), that he is unsure of the last time the cylinder was serviced or filled. Mr. Gush is unaware of any problems with the system and states that it’s managed by a vendor. Mr.
Gush allowed me to view the closed-circuit surveillance (CC) footage that shows the area surrounding the cylinder. While the cylinder itself is just outside of the frame, the footage
captures changes in the area around the cylinder at the time of the explosion, although not the explosion itself.
EVIDENCE:
” Axon 3 body camera footage stored in Evidence.com.
Narratives
” Photos of scene stored on local server.
” Video collected through investigative means stored on Evidence.com.
INJURIES/FATALITIES:
No injuries or fatalities were reported.
CONCLUSION:
Based on the analysis of the available evidence, the failure of the cylinder was not the result of an intentional criminal act. The property was turned over to management and they
were advised to contact their insurance provider before touching anything related to this incident.
CHARGES:
Based on the information currently available there is no evidence to support criminal charges.
STATUS:
This investigation is closed.
End of Report