This week’s featured report combines a routine incident with a combination of rough economic times. People have used natural gas as a means of committing suicide for decades. The new factor of rough economic times should be an additional size-up consideration as fire departments arrive first on the scene during these troubled times in our society.
“We were dispatched as the second engine on a smell of natural gas in the area… After several minutes we were asked by Command to come to the street that they were on (the direction of the wind making this the most likely area for the leak) and assist his firefighter who was going house to house on that street looking for a source for the leak.
…I noted a gentleman who came out of his house (closest to the strongest odor of gas) and sat on his front porch and lit a cigarette. I thought to myself that I wasn’t too comfortable with him doing this, but didn’t feel I had a right to go onto his property and insist he stop smoking. I also believed that because the leak was probably outside, the chances of his cigarette igniting the gas was minimal. I continued down the street looking for the source of the leak.
The other firefighter on my engine had gone up to the house where the gentleman was sitting to check the outside gas meter. He noticed that the dials were moving very fast and…At this point we told the man that what he did was very dangerous and that he needed to go across the street and he eventually complied, going into a neighbor’s house…”
What we see and hear is not always what we get. Natural gas is treated with mercaptan, a non-toxic chemical that contains sulfur, so gas can be detected. Mercaptan has many of the same properties as natural gas which makes mercaptan the perfect odorant. Only a few parts per million are necessary to make natural gas detectable. The stronger the odor, the larger the concentration of gas. Metering is the most effective means of determining the concentration of natural gas in an atmosphere. Once you have read the entire account (CLICK HERE), consider the following to improve your knowledge of natural gas emergencies:
1. Is your department’s response to reported gas leaks adequate to check multiple blocks simultaneously?
2. When was the last time your gas meter was calibrated?
3. At your last meter reading drill, did you cover the meaning of the percentages and parts per million measured on the meter?
4. What is your minimum required PPE for gas leak calls? Is that level adequate to protect you from a flash fire?
5. What is the average response time of your local gas company?
Have you had a near miss occur during a gas leak? Submit your report to www.firefighternearmiss.com let others know how to avert a disaster.
Note: The questions posed by the reviewers are designed to generate discussion and thought in the name of promoting firefighter safety. They are not intended to pass judgment on the actions and performance of individuals in the reports.
