You know to take whatever steps you deem necessary to safeguard the public in event of a pipeline emergency. The following suggestions are offered as a guide:

1. Secure the area around the leak to a safe distance. This could include the evacuation of people from homes, businesses, schools, and other locations, as well as the erection of barricades to control access to the emergency site and similar precautions.

2. If the pipeline leak is not burning, take steps to prevent ignition. This includes prohibiting smoking, rerouting traffic, and shutting off the electricity.

3. If the pipeline leak is burning, try to prevent the spread of fire, but do not attempt to extinguish it. Burning petroleum products will not explode. If the fire is extinguished, gas and vapor will collect and could explode when reignited by secondary fires.

4. Do not attempt to operate any of the valves on the pipeline. Improper operation of the pipeline valves could make the situation worse and cause other accidents to happen.

5. Contact the pipeline company as quickly as possible. Pipeline marker signs show the pipeline company’s name, emergency telephone number, and pipeline contents. Our toll-free 24-hour number is 1-800-925-0705.