How to Fight Gas Line Fires

by E. H. McKenzie

Overview

Gas fires present a challenge to firefighters since water alone will not extinguish them, and they can occur almost anywhere around the home where there is a natural gas or propane fuel source. Barbecue grills, stoves, clothes dryers and hot water heaters are some of the most common appliances that use these flammable gasses. The most effective means of extinguishing such a fire is to starve it by cutting off its fuel source.
Fire Suppression

Step 1

Protect any exposures that may be impinged by the fire by deploying an appropiate number of hose teams relative to the size of the fire. The hose teams are typically made up of two or three men on either a 2.75 inch or 1.5 inch hoseline.
Step 2

Identify the source of the fire and use the nearest gas line shut-off valve to stop the flow of gas. Most gas valves are quarter turn valves and are off when the valve handle is perpendicular to the gas line
Step 3

If the valve is in close proximity to the fire, use one or two suppression teams, depending on the size of the fire, to advance on the fire using the fog setting on their nozzle. This will push the fire back and allow access to the valve.

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Structural firefighting clothing Fire hoses with fog pattern nozzles Self-Contained breathing apparatus
Structural firefighting clothing
Fire hoses with fog pattern nozzles
Self-Contained breathing apparatus
Gas fires should be only be fought by trained personnel. Homeowners should avoid attempting to contain a gas fire on their own because of the potential for explosions that can result from the breach in the gas line.
Gas fires should be only be fought by trained personnel. Homeowners should avoid attempting to contain a gas fire on their own because of the potential for explosions that can result from the breach in the gas line.