Be safe.

You’re the first on the scene, and we want you to have all the information you need to safely handle the natural gas facilities you might encounter.

Here’s what you should know about natural gas itself:

• It’s colorless and odorless, but we add a rotten egg smell so you’ll know right away if there’s a problem.
• Like other fuels, it will produce poisonous carbon monoxide if burned improperly.
• Because natural gas is lighter than air, it becomes combustible when a mixture between 4 and 15 percent of gas in air is exposed to an ignition source.

Click on the following links for information located down this page.

What to do in an emergency involving carbon monoxide
What to do in an emergency involving natural gas
What to do in a structure fire
What to do if natural gas is burning outdoors
What to do if natural gas is burning indoors
What to do if natural gas is escaping outdoors
What to do if natural gas is escaping indoors
What to do if a gas pipe is damaged
What to do around manholes, vaults and sewers
What to do in a natural disaster
What to do if there are transmission pipelines in your response area

Here’s what you should know about carbon monoxide:

• It’s colorless, odorless and toxic to humans.
• Early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include pink skin, cherry red mucous membranes, dizziness, fatigue, mental confusion, nausea and heart palpitations.
• If a carbon monoxide detector has sounded an alarm or you suspect a natural gas appliance is producing carbon monoxide, Avista Utilities will respond. Contact us at (800) 227-9187, and tell us where you are and what’s happening.

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The effects of carbon monoxide

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has determined that 35 PPM is the weighted average limit for continuous exposure to carbon monoxide over an eight-hour period. Higher levels can be life threatening.

What to do in an emergency involving carbon monoxide:

• If a carbon monoxide detector has sounded an alarm, Avista Utilities will respond when there is a natural gas appliance on the premises. You can reach us at (800) 227-9187.

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What to do in an emergency involving natural gas:

• Contact Avista Utilities immediately at (800) 227-9187.
• Evacuate the immediate area.
• Prohibit smoking, matches and operation of electric equipment in the immediate area.
• If necessary, turn the gas valve off at the meter or appliance. Once it is off, leave it off.
• Do not turn off a valve at the main or regulator station, even in an emergency. Doing so could cause public safety issues elsewhere.
• Coordinate with gas crews and other fire/police at the scene.

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What to do in a structure fire:

• If you think the structure has natural gas service, contact Avista immediately at (800) 227-9187. This alerts us to the possibility of unseen damage to our facilities that could pose a danger to you.
• Never remove the natural gas meter, regulator or other facilities.

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  What to do if natural gas is burning outdoors:

• Unless someone’s life is in jeopardy, don’t try to extinguish the fire.
• Check to see if gas is accumulating in nearby buildings or sewers, without entering a manhole or sewer.
• Spray water on any nearby combustibles in danger of igniting, but not on burning gas at its point of escape.

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  What to do if natural gas is burning indoors:

• Turn the gas off at the meter and let us know that’s what you’ve done. You can reach Avista at (800) 227-9187.
• If you can’t safely turn the gas off, spray water on any nearby combustibles in danger of igniting until Avista can control the gas flow.
• Should the gas fire continue, the source of the gas supply is probably outside. Check the surrounding area, including other buildings.

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 What to do if natural gas is escaping outdoors:

• If the leak is near a building, make sure the windows and doors are closed to keep natural gas from entering.
• Check surrounding buildings, including basements, for natural gas odors.
• As appropriate, turn off heating and air conditioning systems that bring air into the building.
• If necessary, reroute or restrict traffic.

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  What to do if natural gas is escaping indoors:

• Evacuate the building.
• Open doors and windows to ventilate.
• Don’t operate electrical switches.
• If you can’t trace the leak back to a source within the building, check buildings nearby and the surrounding area.
• Turn off the valve on the gas meter, and leave it off.

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  What to do if a gas pipe is damaged:

• Turn off gas valves at the meter only.
• Stay clear of damaged plastic pipe; it can carry a static electrical charge.
• Evacuate the area immediately and stay upwind of the pipe.

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What to do around manholes, vaults and sewers:

• If you suspect gas or vapors are present, don’t enter a manhole, vault or sewer.
• Use a combustible gas detector and oxygen depletion instrument to check the atmosphere.
• Do not attempt to extinguish any burning gas.
• If gas is leaking, eliminate all sources of ignition.
• Check basements and rooms of adjoining buildings for gas odors.
• Open windows and doors to ventilate.

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  What to do in a natural disaster:

• If a home or business has sustained major damage in an earthquake, flood or other natural disaster - or you detect a natural gas leak - turn natural gas off at the meter and leave it off.
• Inform us immediately of the locations of any line breaks, gas odors, submerged facilities or damaged structures with natural gas service.

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What to do if there are transmission pipelines in your response area:

• Look for pipeline markers, which indicate the general route of the pipeline. The markers include a 24-hour emergency response number, (800) 227-9187.
• Register with the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) at www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov to access a list of pipelines, operators and contact information by county or zip code.