Firefighters from Liberal Region Are Trained in Natural Gas Safety

LIBERAL, Kan. – April 30, 2015 – Black Hills Energy’s natural gas trainers and safety professionals today presented natural gas safety training at no charge to firefighters from departments in Liberal, Meade and the surrounding region in Kansas.

Firefighters were trained in and practiced techniques for effectively containing and extinguishing actual natural gas fires using fire extinguishers and firehoses under controlled circumstances.

“Safety is our top priority at Black Hills Energy, and over the years, we have forged strong partnerships with fire and rescue teams to promote safety and coordinate our response efforts,” said Todd Jacobs, general manager for Black Hills Energy’s Kansas gas operations. “Natural gas is a safe, reliable energy source and natural gas incidents are few, so our training provides a rare opportunity for hands-on experience and instruction. We hope they’ll never need it, but it will prove invaluable if they do.”

The free training in Liberal was one of many Black Hills Energy has offered over the years to emergency responders in the utility’s 64 Kansas communities. The training is focused on the characteristics of natural gas, how to eliminate or control hazards and, most important, ensure the safety of everyone at the scene and in the community.

In one exercise, firefighters use firehoses and chemical extinguishers to put out a controlled natural gas fire under a scrapped vehicle to simulate the potential result of a car striking a gas meter. Within another scenario, personnel practice how to safely contain and extinguish a natural gas fire from a pipeline puncture.