From time to time, there will be news-making stories telling of an explosion or fire that demolished a home or business.  The seriousness of this news takes on a new impact when there is the added impact from a death.  While events of this nature do not always involve natural gas, the Newtown Square Fire Company is a partner national fire safety organizations and the nation’s natural gas industry in asking for citizen help.

 

Thanks to an added ingredient in the nation’s natural gas supply, the public can receive advanced notice should there be natural gas danger.  This smell is a wise first warning. Newtown Square Fire Chief Doug Everlof stresses, “Never ignore this easily recognized aroma. Act at once.”

 

If the aroma within the home or work location is very faint quickly check to see if pilot light on a gas appliance is out or a burner is partially on.  If the normal small flame is missing this means unburned natural gas is escaping.   If there is any leak of natural gas, several steps must be followed.  Go outdoors and use a cellular or cordless phone to immediately call PECO at 1 800-841-4141. Stay outside of the suspect structure.

 

Before leaving the structure there is a collection of simple, but effective safety steps that should be followed.  This is a collection of DO NOT actions

DO NOT turn on or off electric switches

DO NOT use telephones, radios flashlights, or doorbells

DO NOT smoke, use a lighter or matches

DO NOT start any vehicle either in or out of a garage.

 

If the leak is outside of the structure, such as a sidewalk or in the lawn, the building THE CALLER DOES NOT HAVE TO BE EVACUATED UNLESS TOLD TO DO SO.  When calling PECO at their emergency number, 1-800-841-4141, the call reporting an outdoor natural gas leak may be made indoors.

 

This safety primer also has prompted Chief Everlof to add, “If the smell of leaking natural gas is determined to be outdoors, never think someone else has called the Delaware County’s 9 1 1 Center.  Each report provides added information that helps better define the area of the outdoor leak.”