"We're drilled in exactly what we need to do," said Abilene Fire Department Battalion Chief Joey Kincaid.
And it's that training that keeps the fire department ready for anything, including accidents involving gas lines.
"Normally on a gas line rupture like that, we're basically not going to stop the flow ourselves," said Chief Kincaid. "So basically what we're really getting to is making sure we keep ignition sources away and more isolating the perimeter and keeping people out."
Firefighters are trained on man-made propane and natural gas fires to prepare them for all kinds of fires.
"It's just dealing with gases or different type of fire. So we go out, we practice on that. There's different techniques you use to put those types of fires out, so if we do have a propane tank fire or we do have a natural gas meter that is on fire involved, we're trained on those techniques, we use those techniques, we practice at it. And that way, if we do have an actual incident, we're prepared to go out and put the fire out," Chief Kincaid explained.
Though the fire department trains for accidents like the one Friday night three to four times a year, there's really not a whole lot that residents can do to anticipate a gas leak.
"Really, there are some things that can't be prepared for. Like I said, an accident with a car running into a gas line is not going to be that usual," said Chief Kincaid.
But Chief Kincaid said the best thing is to be prepared to listen.
"One of the big tools we have now where we can do reverse calling at the houses. If they ever get a call like that, take it seriously. If they're advised to leave their house or whatever, then by all means they need to do that," he explained.
Either way, the fire department is always training to be prepared for even the most unusual accident.
"We train almost on a daily basis one way or another, whether it be for EMS or fire-related things like that. So we are constantly training," he said.
And it's that training that keeps the fire department ready for anything, including accidents involving gas lines.
"Normally on a gas line rupture like that, we're basically not going to stop the flow ourselves," said Chief Kincaid. "So basically what we're really getting to is making sure we keep ignition sources away and more isolating the perimeter and keeping people out."
Firefighters are trained on man-made propane and natural gas fires to prepare them for all kinds of fires.
"It's just dealing with gases or different type of fire. So we go out, we practice on that. There's different techniques you use to put those types of fires out, so if we do have a propane tank fire or we do have a natural gas meter that is on fire involved, we're trained on those techniques, we use those techniques, we practice at it. And that way, if we do have an actual incident, we're prepared to go out and put the fire out," Chief Kincaid explained.
Though the fire department trains for accidents like the one Friday night three to four times a year, there's really not a whole lot that residents can do to anticipate a gas leak.
"Really, there are some things that can't be prepared for. Like I said, an accident with a car running into a gas line is not going to be that usual," said Chief Kincaid.
But Chief Kincaid said the best thing is to be prepared to listen.
"One of the big tools we have now where we can do reverse calling at the houses. If they ever get a call like that, take it seriously. If they're advised to leave their house or whatever, then by all means they need to do that," he explained.
Either way, the fire department is always training to be prepared for even the most unusual accident.
"We train almost on a daily basis one way or another, whether it be for EMS or fire-related things like that. So we are constantly training," he said.
