What Causes Gas Lines to Explode?

Late in September 2020, a gas line explosion in Lake Worth, near Lake Worth Road and the Florida Turnpike, closed all lanes for several hours. Luckily, no injuries were reported. The Florida Highway Patrol says the natural gas pipeline that belongs to Florida Gas Transmission Company ruptured, causing the explosion.

According to the Florida Gas Transmission Company, “[w]e experienced a release this morning from our 18-inch natural gas line that runs along the Florida Turnpike…[t]he cause of the release is not known at this time.” If you have been injured in a gas line explosion, call the Florida injury lawyers at Searcy Denney for help.

The Primary Causes of Gas Leak Explosions

Most people use natural gas or propane every day in their homes or workplaces. Gas heats our water and our living spaces and provides the fuel for our cooking appliances. Regardless of how often we use gas, it’s important to remember that it is highly combustible, and if it leaks, it can be very dangerous.

Put simply, gas explosions occur when there is a spark or flame in the presence of a gas leak. Specific causes include:

• Improper use of gas appliances or furnaces
• Poorly or incorrectly installed gas appliances
• Old, rusty, or damaged gas lines that run from the street into your home
• Defective gas-operated equipment
• Faulty manufacturing of gas tanks in cars or trucks

Tips to Help Prevent Gas Line Explosions

The gas running through our pipes is naturally odorless. Because of this, gas companies usually add an odorant to it. The smell is unpleasant, like a rotten egg. This allows you to smell the gas if there is a leak. Accordingly, preventing gas line explosions begins with smelling the gas and then taking that smell seriously. Even the smallest spark can ignite the gas into a serious explosion.

To be safe, consider the following safety tips:

• Don’t use your phone inside. Call in the leak from outside.
• Don’t turn on a light or anything electrical.
• Don’t use a lighter or light a match.
• Alert everyone in the building or home and then leave immediately.
• Have all gas appliances, as well as chimneys, furnaces, vents, and gas lines in your home or business inspected each year.
• Make sure there are working fire extinguishers throughout your office or home.
• Keep the manufacturer’s instructions for the use and care of gas appliances and equipment handy and take the time to follow them.
• Review these natural gas safety tips regularly with coworkers and family members.

Contact Our Florida Injury Lawyers for More Information

Gas line explosions are relatively rare but can be catastrophic in nature. If you have been injured by a gas line explosion, contact the Florida injury lawyers at Searcy Denney. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing until and unless you recover, and we offer a free consultation. Contact us online today for help.