I don't want to minimize the gravity of what they intended, which was likely to cause a huge explosion, but I don't think that would actually happen.
Most likely if the fire got hot enough and gas wasn't flowing through the building, the regulator (the round thing) would probably explode with enough force to break the glass in that door, and perhaps damage the outside of the building. Once that was gone, the flow of gas would act like a giant blowtorch and burn that side of the building until the gas could be turned off.
But I don't think you'd get a Michael-Bay-Type explosion out of it (fortunately).
Again, I doubt those two domestic terrorists were smart enough to know that though, so their intent should factor in.
It almost certainly wouldn't level the building from an explosion. Another building in Portland was leveled from a gas leak because the gas built up. You're not going to get an explosion of that size from heat / burning the gas line. (see my other comment).
This goes beyond mere arson though, because I believe they wanted to cause a big explosion, they were just too stupid to pull it off. There should be an attempted murder charge x every person in that building.
To further clarify what the other guy said, explosions with natural gas come from large quantities igniting all at once. In order to ignite, there must be fire, yes, but also oxygen.
But Mr. Bear, look at all that open space, there's plenty of oxygen
Yes, but there's not plenty of gas in that open space. The gas is contained in the lines and the oxygen is outside in the open. Even if the fire managed to rupture the lines (an extremely unlikely event; you're not burning through steel pipe with a fucking blanket and batteries), all that would happen is that the gas coming out of the pipe would ignite as it reached the oxygen in the air. You would end up with what is essentially a blowtorch.
Dangerous, yes. Explosive, no.
If you have access to plenty of open land, you can test this yourself by taking a propane tank out and shooting it (from far away, obviously). It doesn't explode like the movies, you just punch a hole in it and it maybe ignites and you get a jet of fire coming out of it.
Holy shit! I’ve stayed at that hotel while competing in MMA events. I’m not a utility guy, but couldn’t this cause a huge explosion?
I don't want to minimize the gravity of what they intended, which was likely to cause a huge explosion, but I don't think that would actually happen.
Most likely if the fire got hot enough and gas wasn't flowing through the building, the regulator (the round thing) would probably explode with enough force to break the glass in that door, and perhaps damage the outside of the building. Once that was gone, the flow of gas would act like a giant blowtorch and burn that side of the building until the gas could be turned off.
But I don't think you'd get a Michael-Bay-Type explosion out of it (fortunately).
Again, I doubt those two domestic terrorists were smart enough to know that though, so their intent should factor in.
It almost certainly wouldn't level the building from an explosion. Another building in Portland was leveled from a gas leak because the gas built up. You're not going to get an explosion of that size from heat / burning the gas line. (see my other comment).
This goes beyond mere arson though, because I believe they wanted to cause a big explosion, they were just too stupid to pull it off. There should be an attempted murder charge x every person in that building.
To further clarify what the other guy said, explosions with natural gas come from large quantities igniting all at once. In order to ignite, there must be fire, yes, but also oxygen.
Yes, but there's not plenty of gas in that open space. The gas is contained in the lines and the oxygen is outside in the open. Even if the fire managed to rupture the lines (an extremely unlikely event; you're not burning through steel pipe with a fucking blanket and batteries), all that would happen is that the gas coming out of the pipe would ignite as it reached the oxygen in the air. You would end up with what is essentially a blowtorch.
Dangerous, yes. Explosive, no.
If you have access to plenty of open land, you can test this yourself by taking a propane tank out and shooting it (from far away, obviously). It doesn't explode like the movies, you just punch a hole in it and it maybe ignites and you get a jet of fire coming out of it.