How To Prevent House Fires After A Major Earthquake

Often times fires do as much damage as the earthquake itself! There is something that you can do about it though, install a gas main shutoff valve in your home and it will make sure that all gas to your house is turned off before any fires can start. The shut off valve is located around the gas main on the outside of your house. Once the shaking reaches a certain pre-determined level on the Richter scale (mine is set at 6.1) a golf ball sized ball is shaken off its perch inside the valve and falls into the gas main pipe closing off all gas to your house,

This is a huge step forward in making your home fire safe. If you do not have a gas main shutoff valve your gas pipes could rupture in a quake and begin leaking gas into the house where all it needs is one spark to turn your home into a fireball.

Once the gas main shutoff valve is activated it cannot be reversed unless by a licensed plumber and only after the residence has been declared safe to restore gas service by your local utility company. It could be a very long time depending on the damage that your house has sustained. In California's famous 1906 earthquake, more damage was done by the fire that resuted from the earthquake than the actual quake itself

I found my shutoff valve at Roto Rooter and paid about 250.00 for mine but I am very glad that I have had it installed. Check with your local plumber contractor, if they carry this product and have them do the installation, the peace of mind is worth it just for that.

By: James Bodeen

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