Gas, Smoke & Reporting Fires

Two immediate dangers: the smell of gas (an invisible hazard that can explode) and smoke (a sign fire is already burning). Both demand quick, decisive action.

Requirement 5h: Responding to Natural Gas and Smoke

If You Smell Natural Gas

Natural gas is odorless, so gas companies add a chemical odorant (mercaptan) that smells like rotten eggs or sulfur. If you smell this, gas is leaking.

What to DO:

1. Leave immediately. Get outside the building as quickly as possible. Do not waste time investigating or collecting items.
2. Do not use electrical switches, phones, or anything that might create a spark. (Turn off light switches, do not call from inside the house.)
3. Do not light a match or create any flame.
4. Once outside, call 911 or your gas company’s emergency line from a safe distance (at least 100 feet away).
5. Do not re-enter the building until the gas company or fire department clears it.
6. Ventilate the building: If it’s safe to do so (if gas is not immediately threatening), open windows and doors from outside to help dissipate the gas.

What NOT to do:

• ❌ Do not turn lights on or off
• ❌ Do not use the phone inside the house
• ❌ Do not light matches, candles, or any flame
• ❌ Do not operate electrical appliances
• ❌ Do not start a car in the garage
• ❌ Do not investigate where the leak is coming from
• ❌ Do not ignore the smell thinking it will go away

Why? A spark from a light switch, a phone, or a car engine can ignite escaping gas, causing an explosion. Even a static electricity shock could potentially ignite it. Leave first, call second.

If You Smell Smoke

Smoke means fire is burning somewhere. Even if you can’t see flames, assume a fire exists nearby or has already spread into walls or hidden spaces.

What to DO:

1. Alert others immediately. Yell “FIRE!” to wake or alert people nearby.
2. Leave the building using your evacuation plan. Use stairs (never elevators).
3. If smoke is thick, stay low. Crawl below the smoke where air is cleaner and cooler.
4. Feel doors before opening them. Place the back of your hand on a door. If it’s hot, the fire is likely on the other side. Use an alternate route.
5. Close doors behind you as you leave to slow fire spread to other areas.
6. Get to your meeting point and account for all family members.
7. Call 911 once you’re safe outside.
8. Do not re-enter the building.

What NOT to do:

• ❌ Do not investigate to find the fire
• ❌ Do not use elevators (they can trap you or malfunction in a fire)
• ❌ Do not stop to collect belongings or pets
• ❌ Do not hide in the building
• ❌ Do not use water on certain fires (electrical, gas, or grease fires)
• ❌ Do not wait for everyone to be ready—leave immediately and meet outside

Why? Smoke kills faster than flames. In a real fire, you have only minutes before visibility is zero and air becomes unbreathable. Every second counts.

Requirement 5i: Reporting Fires

How to Report a Fire

When you call 911 to report a fire, the dispatcher needs specific information to send the right resources to the right location.

When calling 911:

1. Stay calm. Speak clearly. The dispatcher is trained to understand emergencies.
2. Give your location first: “I’m calling about a fire at 123 Main Street” or “There’s a fire at the corner of Oak and Elm.”
3. Describe the fire:
   • Where is it? (House, garage, vacant building, wildland area?)
   • What’s burning? (If you know: “It’s a house fire,” “Brush fire,” etc.)
   • How big is it? (“Small fire in one room” vs. “Entire building is burning”)
   • Is anyone trapped inside?
4. Answer dispatcher questions. They may ask:
   • “Is anyone inside?”
   • “Are there hazards nearby?” (propane tank, power lines, etc.)
   • “Are there injuries?”
5. Keep the line open. Do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to. They may need more information.

Example call:

You: “I need to report a fire.” Dispatcher: “What is the address of the fire?” You: “It’s at 456 Elm Street, the blue house.” Dispatcher: “Is this a house, garage, or other structure?” You: “It’s the house. The kitchen is on fire.” Dispatcher: “Is anyone inside the house?” You: “No, we got everyone out. My family is outside in the front yard.” Dispatcher: “Are there any injuries?” You: “No injuries that I know of.” Dispatcher: “Okay, firefighters are on the way. Stay outside and away from the building.”

Calling from a cell phone:

• State your location clearly, as cell calls don’t always connect to the nearest dispatch center.
• If possible, have a specific address ready.
• If you don’t know the exact address, describe landmarks: “It’s next to the church on Main Street” or “It’s behind the gas station.”

False Alarms Matter

If you call 911 about a fire that turns out to be a bonfire, a grill, or something non-threatening, do not hang up in embarrassment. Explain what you saw and let the dispatcher decide if resources need to respond. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.

However: Deliberately calling 911 with a false report is a crime. Never “prank” call 911 about a fire. Firefighters responding to false alarms cannot respond to real emergencies.

Now let’s shift from home hazards to another category of fire danger: flammable and combustible liquids.