Firefighters Resolve Underground Utility Emergency at Kaiser Hospital in San Rafael

Incident log notes

•Incident Commander: Jason Hatfield, Battalion Chief.
•Date of Incident: Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
•Time of Dispatch: 9:06 a.m.
•Location of Incident: Kaiser Hospital 99 Montecillo Road, San Rafael
•Type of Incident: Hazardous material emergency.
•Occupancy: Hospital facility.
•Casualties: None.
•Damage Estimate: No estimate.
•Resources Assigned: 4 chief officers, 5 engines, 1 ladder truck, Marin Hazardous Materials team, 2 ambulance units, San Rafael Fire drone Big Mac, San Rafael Police, Marin County EMS, and Marin County CUPA.
•Outside Agency Assistance: Marin County Hazardous Materials team, Marin County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Marin County Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA)
Marin County Fire Department, Central Fire Department, Southern Marin Fire District & Novato Fire District.

Summary report

Firefighters responded to a report of a rupture involving a buried high-pressure oxygen line located between the hospital and its operations & maintenance building. Upon arrival, firefighters learned that a contractor had inadvertently drilled into the line, which extended from a large high-pressure oxygen storage tank and supplied oxygen to the hospital.

Firefighters were assigned to secure the damaged line to eliminate the potential for an oxygen-fueled fire, provide the hospital with portable oxygen tanks to maintain its supply, and prepare for the possible evacuation of critically ill patients requiring continuous oxygen. Additionally, the hospital was placed on emergency department divert and any incoming ambulances were directed to other hospitals in the area during the course of the emergency.

While members of the Marin County Hazardous Materials team worked to locate and secure the damaged line, hospital administrators advised the incident commander that the delivery of portable oxygen tanks had stabilized hospital operations and that a patient evacuation was not necessary.

After approximately 90 minutes, Hazardous Materials team personnel reported that the oxygen line had been located and secured. However, responders continued to observe vapor escaping into the atmosphere. Further investigation determined that the leak originated from an adjacent high-pressure steam pipe rather than the oxygen line.

The team was able to secure the steam pipe, bringing the incident to a successful conclusion.

Contact

Robert Sinnott, Deputy Fire Chief-Deputy Fire Marshal

415-485-5067 (desk)

[email protected]