Fire dept launches awareness campaign to avoid gas leakage
PRAYAGRAJ: The fire department has launched an awareness campaign, primarily targeting housewives, about ways to avoid leakage from LPG cooking cylinders.
The campaign is part of the department’s efforts to check incidents of fire outbreaks due to leakage of LPG cylinders and other reasons.
The campaigns will be focused at women teachers in schools and colleges. Social media platforms would also be used to reach out to women and make them aware them of safety measures while cooking food, officials said.
Chief fire officer (CFO) Dr RK Pandey said several workshops and demonstrations have already been held by the fire department at schools, colleges and other places across the district during last few months.
“Fire department is especially trying to reach out to women who usually work in the kitchen in every household and are under direct threat of receiving injuries and burns if fire erupts due to leakage in LPG cylinders. Women working at kitchen should always put the burner or stove at a height and at some distance away from the LPG cylinder. That’s because the LPG gas is heavier than the air and always comes down in case of leakage,” Pandey said.
“The rubber pipe should not be more than 1.5 meters and should be changed every year. The regulator of the LPG cylinder and knob of the stove should always be put off after use.
To detect a leakage in LPG cylinder, wet thumb should be put on the knob. There is leakage if the thumb feels cold or there is pressure from beneath. In such cases, the cylinder should be placed in open place and concerned company should immediately be informed. Safety cork should always be put on the LPG cylinder while leaving home,” he added.
The CFO said in no case, matchbox or fire should be used to check leakage in LPG cylinder.
“The holes in the burner should be regularly cleaned as choked ones may cause fire. LPG cylinder should not be tilted or put down on the ground, as it may cause an explosion. Children should be kept away from LPG cylinder, matchbox and other inflammable material at home,” he said.
Besides short circuits, leakage in LPG cylinders is among the biggest cause of fire at houses, restaurants and other places.
Recently, fire broke out at a house at Dharamveer Marg in Dhumanganj area due to leakage in LPG cylinder. Although no one was hurt in the incident, goods worth several lakh were gutted in the fire.