1924 – Aug 29, Gasoline tank fumes explosion, People’s Natural Gas, Pittsburgh PA —   11

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-24-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–11  NFPA. “Gasoline Filling Station Fire Record.” Quarterly, Vol. 30, No. 3, Jan 1937, p. 279.

–11  NFPA. “The Pittsburgh Gasoline Explosion.” Quarterly, V18, No. 3, Jan 1925, p. 210.

–11  NFPA. “Typical Loss of Life Fires in Sprinklered Buildings.” Quarterly, Oct 1930, pp. 221.

–11  Titusville Herald, PA. “Eleventh Victim.” 9-8-1924, p. 1.

Narrative Information

National Fire Protection Association, 1925: “On August 29, 1924, during the unloading of an automobile tank truck of gasoline in a Pittsburgh garage building, an explosion occurred costing the lives of eleven people… The tank truck which was responsible for this explosion was fitted with a so-called “safety relief valve.” Testimony at the coroner’s inquest was somewhat conflicting, but it seems that the finger of suspicion points at this valve as being directly or indirectly responsible for the disaster. In the hope of securing- light on this subject which might be of assistance in preventing the recurrence of similar explosions, the N. F. P. A. Execu­tive Office took this matter up with the manufacturer of the valve, sug­gesting his moral if not his legal responsibility. The reply received from the manufacturer, the Henry Vogt Machine Company of Louisville, Ky., said, “We cannot see where the valve is at fault, regardless of the findings of the jury.” The letter stated also that there are thousands of these valves in service throughout the country.”  (NFPA. “The Pittsburgh Gasoline Explosion.”  Quarterly of the NFPA, V18, No. 3, Jan 1925, 210.)

National Fire Protection Association, 1925: “…it is probable that the failure to function of a safety relief valve may have been responsible for the escape of gasoline vapor. The primary reason for the disaster, however, is the fact that this truck was being unloaded inside the building, where fundamental requirements for safety in gasoline handling call for such tank filling to be done always through connections outside of buildings. In this fire seven garage em­ployees were killed, and four children, who were playing in the street at some little distance from the garage, were burned to death. (NFPA. “Tank Truck Fire Record,” Quarterly of the NFPA, V18, N3, Jan 1925, pp. 282-283.)

“A tank truck load of casinghead gasoline was. Being discharged into underground storage tanks in a Pittsburgh garage building, the unloading operation taking place just inside the door. Vapor from the casinghead gasoline escaped from the tank in considerable quantity, was ignited by some cause not determined, and eleven people were killed…. This explosion would probably have not occurred if the unloading had been done with the tank truck outside the building in accordance with the fundamental require­ments of good practice in handling such gasoline, even with the large escape of gasoline due to an inadequate relief valve such as was reported in this case. The natural air currents would presumably have afforded sufficient ventilation to prevent the explosion if the truck had been out­side the building. 

“The driver of the truck had obtained a high grade gasoline from Imperial, Pa., about twenty-one miles distant, and was preparing to place it in the underground. Tank at the time the explosion occurred. At the coroner’s inquest, testimony was presented that he had left his engine running, and was presumably opening the cover on one of the compartments on the tank wagon. Evidently the tank contained considerable pressure, for it was testified at the inquest that a large quantity of gasoline spray was involved an instant or so before the fire and explosion took place. These fumes or spray coming out of the tank were evidently ignited by the exhaust, and the driver, six other employees, and four children who had been playing in the street were fatally burned.

“Some testimony was presented which would tend to prove that the relief valve on the top of the tank was inadequate to take care of the pressure accumulated during the twenty-one mile trip in the hot sun from Imperial to Pittsburgh. A representative of the manufacturers of the valve was present and testified that the company had never made any tests, as they thought the valve would be adequate. He was positive that it would relieve the pressure.

“The coroner, on the contrary, was positive that a sudden increase of pressure would seat the ball valve, and the additional side outlet was insufficient to relieve the accumulated pressure.”  (Ibid, pp. 290-291.)

NFPA, 1937: “Pittsburgh, Pa., August 29, 1924. The storage tank of a garage with interior pumps was being filled from a gasoline tank truck. The truck was parked with its motor running, just inside the door. The truck had carried a load of high test gasoline for some miles on a hot day, and when the driver took off one of the tank caps, the gasoline vapor was released and formed an explosive mixture with the air. The mixture was ignited by the motor, and eleven people were killed in the resulting explosion.”

Newspaper

Aug 30, Gettysburg Times: “Pittsburgh, Aug. 30. – An explosion of gasoline yesterday in the garage of the People’s Natural Gas Company took a toll of six lives, three of them boys, caused probably fatal injuries to seven persons and less serious injury to seven others.

“Part of the gas company building was wrecked and adjoining buildings were shaken by the blast. The property damage was estimated at $10,000.

“The explosion occurred when 1,500 gallons of gasoline was being drained from a tank wagon into the storage tank at the garage.

“Four automobiles in the garage and six in the street were destroyed by the fire that followed. Officials of the company said they could assign no cause for the blast.

“Windows with a radius of eight blocks were shattered.

“Those dead are:

John Messina, 6;

1. H. Roberts, 7;

James Montgomery, 7;

1. H. Degrasphyi,

Patrick Kane and

Francis Browne.

“The boys were playing in the street, near the garage.

“The clothing was burned from some of the victims and they were hurled many feet by the concussion.

“About 25 persons were in the company’s building, most of them girls. Three young women were among those injured. They were hurled across the room by the explosion.” (Gettysburg Times, PA. “Garage Blast Is Fatal To Six.” 9-1-1924, p. 3.)

Aug 30: “Pittsburgh, Pa, Aug 30 – Two deaths early today brought the death toll in the explosion of a 1,500 gallon gasoline tank at the People’s National Gas company late yesterday to nine. Three more are reported dying while eight others are suffering from burns. The tank let go with sudden force as it was being drained into an underground receptacle of the gas company.  The plant was badly damaged and many homes in the vicinity were rocked and windows broken within a radius of eight squares.  An investigation was under way today to determine the cause of the explosion.”  (Tyrone Daily Herald. PA. “Explosion Toll Increased Today,” 8-30-1924, p. 1.)

Sep 7, Titusville Herald: “Pittsburgh, Sept. 7 – The eleventh death to result from an explosion of gasoline August 29 in the garage of the Peoples Natural Gas company in Forbes street was recorded today. Dominick Trakimab, 19, the victim, died of burns suffering a relapse after he appeared to be recovering.” (Titusville Herald, PA. “Eleventh Victim.” 9-8-1924, p. 1.)

Sources

Gettysburg Times, PA. “Garage Blast Is Fatal To Six.” 9-1-1924, p. 3. Accessed 3-24-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/gettysburg-times-sep-01-1924-p-3/

National Fire Protection Association. “The Pittsburgh Gasoline Explosion.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 18, No. 3, Jan 1925, p. 210.

National Fire Protection Association. “Typical Loss of Life Fires in Sprinklered Buildings.”  Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 24, No. 2, Oct 1930, pp. 221-222.

Titusville Herald, PA. “Eleventh Victim.” 9-8-1924, p. 1. Accessed 3-24-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/titusville-herald-sep-08-1924-p-1/

Tyrone Daily Herald. PA. “Explosion Toll Increased Today,” 8-30-1924, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=103455374