State Fire Marshall warns Eagle Lake residents of damaged gas appliance dangers after flooding

Anyone who has been affected by the flooding in Eagle Lake should make safety their number one priority when dealing with Liquefied Compressed Gas (“LC‐Gas”) appliances or LC‐Gas systems that may have been damaged.

“Our inspectors have recently found instances where generators were under water and pipes are corroded,” said State Fire Marshal and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney in a statement. “There are a number of safety issues happening in this area which was devastated by flooding, and homeowners need to take precautions.”

Using damaged appliances could lead to a fire, serious injuries or worse.

Inspectors have found people using generators for their main source of electricity where the generator was not properly maintained. In one instance, the generator was under about six inches of water. Other hazards include pipes that are not sealed and generators being too close to a home.

In general, owner’s and installation manuals specify that appliances must be replaced if they have been under water. Even gas pressure regulators might need to be replaced if damaged by flooding in order to ensure effective gas pressure regulation.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends the following appliance guidelines after flooding:

• Inspect the appliances for signs that the appliance may have been damaged by flooding.
• Signs of flooding include a visible water-submerge line on the appliance housing, excessive surface or component rust, deposited debris on internal components and mildew-like odor
• All flood‐damaged plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical appliances should be replaced.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, contact the LC‐Gas Division of the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 601‐359‐1061.