Why do firefighters warn of the danger of unused gas cylinders?

The National Federation of Firefighters warns of the danger of gas cylinders stored by individuals. She is launching an awareness campaign to return empty bottles. We explain why.

The National Federation of Firefighters estimates the number of gas cylinders in circulation in France at 68 million. However, only 10% of them return to the distributor after use. This is why the firefighters are launching an awareness campaign to return empty bottles. Commander Eric Brocardi, spokesperson for the National Federation of Firefighters, explains: “The bottles are not necessarily returned after use. This is what is now pushing the firefighters and Antargaz to join forces. We want to make it clear to the population that it is important to return empty gas cylinders to collection points. People do not return unused bottles due to negligence and laziness. There may also be a lack of information. The bottles are all returnable”.

However, these bottles absolutely must be reported for several reasons. First there is a simple argument: ensuring the safety of firefighters. Commander Eric Brocardi emphasizes: “When we undertake interventions, we sometimes have the unpleasant surprise of coming across gas cylinders in an environment that is not a cylinder warehouse: this may be in the countryside or in cellars. We cannot tell if they are full or empty. Even if they are empty, there is a residue which can cause damage to firefighters. This represents a risk. When they go on intervention in an open environment for a fire, such as a forest fire or a shed fire, they are not always told that there are gas cylinders, and this completely changes the intervention procedure. It is necessary to set up a security perimeter and cool the gas bottles. These are interventions that require a lot of precautions. If we do not inform the firefighters of the uncontrolled presence of these gas cylinders, it could represent a great danger.”.

The second risk concerns the environment. “It poses an environmental risk to store bottles or throw them outside. Many town halls have carried out communication campaigns for litter. Our environment is precious. If you throw away your bottles anywhere, it degrades nature and in the event of a fire in a natural area, firefighters do not expect to encounter gas bottles. The problem of security arises again. We must continue to protect those who protect us” insists the spokesperson. When the bottles are returned to a point of sale, they are emptied and inspected to verify that they comply with current standards. They can also be filled with gas again and can return to the distribution circuit.

Commander Eric Brocardi takes this opportunity to remind you of some storage tips: “We must avoid storing gas cylinders in basements. It is better to put them in kitchens. Furthermore, there is no point in storing extra gas cylinders at home. This is not in accordance with the rules. A home is not a place to store gas. You must also check the wear of the hoses and carefully observe the bottle use-by date which is written.”.

Thanks to this tool, you can easily find a collection point near you.

Tags France