Response to Natural Gas Emergencies

HI all!

FDIC is just a few days away!

I am working on a pilot training program with our gas company down here in the DFW (TX) area entitled Fire Department Response to Natural Gas Emergencies.  (program description at bottom of this post)

Part of my preparation for this program includes doing some research on how departments (both locally and nationally) currently respond to and operate at natural gas incidents. 

I am obviously looking for SOPs/SOGs/policies, however I am also interested in current practices...what really happens on the street. 

Additionally, I am very interested in hearing stories about near-misses or injuries as the result of these incidents.  During the first week of research I have already found out about two line-of-duty injuries that occured down here in recent years. 

Please send me whatever you have to:
johnb@plano.gov

Thanks!   

Take care and be safe,

John 

Program description:

Every day fire departments across America respond to odor investigations, reports of gas leaks and other natural gas related emergencies. Although these incidents are often considered "routine," the hazards presented to all involved, whether responders or bystanders, are very serious and very real. Many times disaster can be just a spark away. In the last ten years at least twenty-five fire department personnel and countless others across the country have been injured or killed while responding to natural gas emergencies. Class participants will study a number of these cases, watch several videos taken from incident scenes and explore risk management concepts and applicable federal, state and local laws and procedures that will challenge them to eliminate complacency and increase safety in their responses. An in-depth study of natural gas properties and hazards will be conducted. Participants will be introduced to the various components of natural gas transmission and distribution systems, with a special emphasis placed on the elements found in their jurisdiction. Utility company operations as well as dispatch and response procedures will also be discussed. Elements necessary for a safe and effective fire department response will be presented and include dispatch considerations, arrival on scene, components of an initial assessment, initial actions, secondary / on-going assessment, control and accountability, stopping leaks / supporting utility company operations / and hazard mitigation.