PSEG Holds ‘Gas Emergency’ Training Session In Montclair

MONTCLAIR, NJ — PSE&G held a “gas emergency” training exercise in partnership with Montclair first responders on Monday.

The four-hour exercise – held near the Essex Pool and Ice Rink parking lots – allowed PSE&G and local safety professionals to “practice keeping the public safe in the event of a damaged underground gas line,” the utility provider announced in a news release.

The training exercise also provided the opportunity to test incident command and evacuation procedures, PSE&G said.

According to PSE&G, protocols for responding to a gas leak are different from responding to a fire. For example, the evacuation distance is further for a gas emergency, turning off power may not be possible, and automatic generators or solar panels can be potential sources of ignition.

Participating agencies present on Monday included the Montclair Police Department, Montclair Emergency Medical Services, New Jersey Natural Gas, South Jersey Industries, Con Edison, New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, and New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

Smell gas outside a building? Here’s what to do, PSE&G spokespeople said:

• Leave the building as quickly as possible and move 350 feet away from the structure. Take all others with you. If you smell gas outside, move well away from where you suspect the gas is leaking.
• Call 911 immediately and call PSE&G at 1-800-880-PSEG (7734). (Do NOT call from inside the building. Wait until you are outside and a safe distance to call.)

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