Black Hills Energy conducts natural gas fire safety training for Nebraska firefighters

Natural gas utility Black Hills Energy held natural gas fire safety training this week in Gering, Nebraska, for more than 50 volunteer Nebraska firefighters.

Black Hills Energy’s natural gas operations trainers conducted the natural gas education and safety training session in which firefighters practiced techniques for containing and extinguishing actual natural gas fires under controlled circumstances.

“Natural gas has an excellent safety record, and fires are rare,” Scott Borders, operations manager for Black Hills Energy, said. “The best way to learn the traits of natural gas and gain experience in fighting a natural gas fire is during a training exercise like this.”

The training simulated pipeline punctures, the potential results of a car hitting a gas meter and other situations. Firefighters used fire hoses and chemical extinguishers to put out the simulated fires.

“We work closely with emergency responders at municipal, county and state levels, and this training is another way we encourage and develop the close ties and teamwork it takes to successfully manage a natural gas incident,” Borders said.