Gas Investigation

What do you do if you smell gas inside or outside, or suspect a natural gas leak?

• Leave the building or area right away
• Do not turn on or off any switches which may be an ignition source
• Do not use your phone in the area. The phone also could be an ignition source
• Do not turn on or off any appliances
• If the suspected leak is outside, do not start your car or other vehicle in the area
• Evacuate other people & pets from the area but don’t ring the doorbell, which could be an ignition source
• Leave the door(s) open when you leave
• Never try to troubleshoot a leak or an appliance or try to make repairs yourself
• Obviously, it would be a very bad idea to smoke around a suspected leak

Next

• Call 911 from a safe area, away from the odor or suspected leak
• When the firefighters arrive, meet them & brief them on the conditions
• In addition to dispatching fire companies, Emergency Communications staff will notify Eversource to respond.
• Firefighters may also request Inspectional Services to respond

Response

• Typically, Emergency Communications will dispatch an Engine Company, Ladder Company, Rescue Company, and a Division Chief (and sometimes a Squad) to a gas incident. The response may be upgraded, depending on the situation
• Firefighters in full PPE (personal protective equipment) will test the air via sampling meters to determine a potential explosive range
• Depending on the conditions, they may expand the evacuation zone, establish water supplies, use water fog to control the vapors, and ventilate, while stopping the flow of gas.
• Cambridge Police will also assist in maintaining an evacuation safety zone

For a compromised gas line outside, in addition to the odor, you may hear hissing or see dirt blowing out of the ground from the leak area.

After

• Once the incident has been cleared and the area has been determined to be safe, you will be allowed to return
• Most incidents are resolved quickly & safely with no extenuating circumstances

Remember that it is always better to be safe, instead of taking a chance with a potential ignition. If you suspect a gas leak, call 911

Rescue 1 with Ladder 1 investigating a reported odor of natural gas in a residential neighborhood
Engine 1 and Division 2 are also on scene

Rescue 1 apparatus on scene of a residential natural gas investigation

An "Industrial Scientific" air and gas sampling meter in use by firefighters to test the air 

A firefighter in full PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) making entry into a residence during a gas investigation

Firefighters in full PPE working at a gas main break in a commercial area