SC Emergency Management provides propane tank safety tips

After a few unfortunate events last year, Sheridan County Emergency Management Coordinator, Jesse Ludikhuize, stopped by Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse to give some tips on propane tank safety.

The average home and commercial-use propane tank is 500 gallons. Although considered a safe product, failure of these tanks or the systems and piping that control the gas can result in catastrophic explosions. 

Ludikhuize listed some tips to help prevent accidents and ensure firefighters can find the tanks should they be required to respond to an emergency. 

J. Ludikhuize

Ludikhuize suggested clearing snow off of the tank and in times of heavy snow, place a posted flag marking the tanks location in the event firefighters have to shut down gas to the home. 

Ensuring that not only the tank but all piping is clear and maintained could be a life saving measure. 

J. Ludikhuize

Should residents smell rotten eggs, gas may be leaking into the home. The smell is added to the gas by manufacturers as an alert. Residents should vacate the home immediately and seek fresh air and shelter in a vehicle or another structure away from the home. Residents should contact Fire and Rescue once they are safely away from the structure. Firefighters have specific equipment to detect a gas leak and are trained to turn off gas at the source.

To learn more, contact your propane provider. They should have information available to maintain the propane tank and further safety tips to keep your home and family safe.