Propane tanks are not an unusual sight in outlying county areas. Alternative fuel experts agree that the gas can be dangerous if not handled properly, or if the tank is defective. But they say that propane is no more dangerous than gasoline or natural gas.
About 30 firefighters from El Paso and Juarez, Mexico, attended a special propane training Tuesday morning at the West Valley Fire Department. As part of the training, the group watched a KFOX report on a deadly house fire two years ago fueled by propane. Five people were killed, including children.
"There's a lot of use of propane in south Texas and along the border, and the firefighters often don't know the techniques to respond to propane fires," said Dan Kelly, director of Alternative Fuels with the Texas Railroad Commission.
"I don't want you killed. I don't want your buddies killed, and I don't want you injured," said Thomas Tetru, director of Alternative Fuel Training with the Texas Railroad Commission.
Firefighters learned the mechanics of propane tanks, and how to stay safe in situations where they might pose a danger.
"If you roll up to an emergency and you see liquid coming out (of the tank), what you want to do is turn that cylinder upside down because what you're doing is turning it from a liquid leak to a vapor leak. This way you'll be reducing your exposure by 270 times," said Tetru.
Outside the classroom, firefighters got hands-on training on how vapor expands inside a propane tank, and how it's released through simulated water tanks.
El Paso firefighters said they usually run into propane tanks during the summertime when people tend to barbecue, and during the winter when some people use them to stay warm.
"It's difficult to say how often it could happen it could happen, but anything could happen at any given time," said Ken Heidelberg, an El Paso firefighter.
Juarez firefighters have a lot more contact with these dangerous tanks, which can easily start a fire if it leaks and flammables are nearby. They said they handle three to four fires a day where propane tanks are present.
"In every house there's going to be a cylinder, and we know there's going to be a problem with that so we have to be ready for that," said Fernando Licon, a Juarez firefighter.
The Texas Railroad Commission is training fire departments along the border before extending this program to other departments across the state.
Tuesday's half-day training was based on the mechanics of propane tanks. There will be two more session offered Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. They take place at the West Valley Fire Department.
The Texas Railroad Commission plans to have another training in six months, except it will focus on real world situations.
Helpful tips to keep safe from propane related accidents:
Don't keep propane tanks inside the home. Don't fill the propane tank past 80 percent capacity. If you see fog coming out of the bottom of the tank it's due to a liquid leak. You're going to want to turn the tank upside down and walk away. During a vapor leak situation, turn off the valve.
If the tank runs out of liquid, make sure it's in an isolated area, and walk away.
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