Lubbock, TX – A house explosion in West Lubbock was caused by a gas leak Friday, and now Lubbock Fire Rescue and Atmos Energy are warning of the dangers of gas leaks inside the home.
The easiest way to know there’s a gas leak in your home is the smell. Atmos Energy said gas smells like rotten eggs, and if you start to smell that in your home, you need to leave the home immediately.
“As soon as there’s a gas leak, just leave. Don’t do anything else. Don’t try to find it. Don’t try to open doors. Don’t try to do anything like that. Any little thing could cause it to go off,” said Lubbock Fire Rescue spokesperson Kevin Ivy.
The smell is very distinct, and Atmos Energy adds mercaptan to the gas to make it smell like rotten eggs. Other ways to notice a gas leak is a hissing sound from the gas escaping the pipes. You could possibly see the leak as well.
Natural gas has no color, but you may see a thick cloud, blowing dirt or bubbling water. Other clues are dried spots in moist areas or dead vegetation near a gas line.
“Really anything can cause it to go off. Turning the switch on and off, that little spark even though you don’t see it every time it happens that could cause, answering your phone, turning on your TV,” said Ivy.
If you think there’s a leak, leave your area immediately and call 911.
“It’s best to leave and let the professionals handle it. Let the fire department look at it. They’re trained to handle those dangerous situation,” said Atmos Energy representative Marinda Heinrich. “We want people to be safe, always be safe.”
Thankfully, LFR said gas leaks in a house aren’t common but can be caused by any construction inside the home. If you’ve recently opened up a wall, or moved the oven, a gas pipe could have been hit.
“It can happen if someone was in there working in the closet, or in the kitchen, moved an appliance, which caused the fitting to break or get a minor tear in it or something like that,” said Ivy.
If you think you have a gas leak, leave all the doors open on your way out. Do not use any electric device. Don’t try to find the leak yourself or shut off a gas valve. Firefighters are trained with how to handle gas leaks without causing a fire or explosion.