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Kim Johnson ReportingAn explosion caused by a gas line leveled a Davis County home. And that has people wondering how safe they are in their houses.
Millions of us use natural gas as a source for heat. And the experts say it's very safe. But accidents do happen.
There AREN'T commercial detectors, like for carbon monoxide. The best safety device-- if you smell a problem with an appliance, or a gas line outside-- is your nose.
Dan Mortensen/ Salt Lake City Hazardous Materials Team: "Natural gas by itself has no odor. They add an additive to it so we smell it. It's called Mercaptan, and that's the smell everybody recognizes when they smell natural gas."
Dan Mortensen says natural gas is not poisonous, but it does displace oxygen. So in an enclosed room, it's dangerous. But, he says, if it has an escape route, it'll take it.
Dan Mortensen: "It's lighter than air. Natural gas is a lighter than air product. So a lot of times when we have leaks, especially on a hot day, it's headed right on up to the atmosphere and gone. Sometimes the odor you smell is the Mercaptan left behind. When it gets trapped in a home, and can't escape or go up, that's when you have a problem."
And problems can be catastrophic.
An explosion leveled Luana Fowers home over the weekend. Fortunately she wasn't home at the time.
Twelve years ago, Dorothy Walton wasn't so lucky. The gas levels in her home were at the flammable level of between five and fifteen percent. The tiny spark caused when she picked up the phone was enough to set off a deadly explosion.
Experts say when you smell natural gas, get outside before you call for help.
Dan Mortensen: "Don't turn off your electrical breakers, switches, things like that, because that can cause a spark. Every time you turn a switch on and off, there's a small spark that connects going on and off. It's best to evacuate, get your family out and let the professional take care of it."
So don't use the phone, or switches, if you smell a leak. Other things to protect yourself: Make sure your gas appliances are cleaned and maintained regularly.
And if you plan to dig, call blue stakes so you don't rupture a gas line.
