Propane leaks: rare but potentially fatal, maintain your equipment
Mar 10, 2023, 3:00 PM | Updated: 3:14 pm
The best way to prevent a leak is to keep your equipment maintained. (AmeriGas)
(AmeriGas)
SALT LAKE CITY — Though authorities haven’t identified the cause of the Cache County house explosion yet, the incident prompted concerns over propane safety.
Related: UPDATE: Victims of Cache County house explosion named
Ted Black, the Utah State Fire Marshall, said it’s rare for propane leaks to cause explosions. But, you should still take precautionary steps.
“Keep your equipment maintained, keep it in good working order, keep the snow and ice off the valve area of your tank and you should be fine.”
Black also said that the first thing to do if you suspect a leak is to shut off the tank, air out your house by opening doors and windows, and call a service to come to fix the leak.
However, as pointed out by Black, explosions from propane leaks really aren’t that common. “[They’re] pretty rare, we don’t see these but once every several years.
“Anytime you think there is a problem get it fixed. That’s really the issue here,” said Black. “So often we look at things [and think], ‘that’s been broke for months and I’ll get to it someday’ and those are the kind of things that cause problems.”
Related reading: Community, authorities react to fatal Cache County house explosion
