For incidents involving a break in a natural gas line, which action should be taken?

• A. Evacuate the area upwind from it.
• B. Eliminate ignition sources in the area.
• C. Extinguish any flames coming from the line.
• D. Shut down the main valve to stop the leak.

Answer: (B)

When a natural gas line breaks, the immediate danger is ignition of the released gas. The quickest and most effective way to reduce that risk is to remove anything that could serve as a source of ignition in the area. That means eliminating sparks, flames, hot surfaces, and electrical or other potential ignition sources nearby. By doing this first, you greatly lower the chance that a gas cloud will ignite, giving responders time to manage the leak safely.

Extinguishing flames from the line or trying to shut off the gas valve yourself can be hazardous or impractical in the moment, and may not address ignition risk as directly. Evacuation is important for keeping people safe, but the core priority in this scenario is removing ignition sources so the leaking gas doesn’t ignite while professionals work to stop the leak.