LPG, accidents and dispersions: as are the firefighters

The LPG (Liquefatti oil gas) is used to feed millions of vehicles and for many essential services. Practicality and diffusion are its strengths, but correct management is essential to prevent risks. The main danger arises from the fact that The LPG is heavier than the air: If missing, it tends to accumulate in the lowest points, such as cellars, garages and cunicoli of the distributors, creating potentially explosive atmospheres. A spark is enough – and not toxicity – to transform a dispersion situation into a serious accident.

Road accidents

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Before entering in detail of the protocols it is necessary to make a premise: the LPG systems mounted on modern cars are equipped with three safety valves that make the explosion of the tank very improbableAlthough the formation of fires with languages ​​of fire around the vehicle in case of general fire cannot be excluded. When a LPG vehicle is involved in an accident, the first operation consists in verifying the absence of losses and putting the vehicle safely. Operators employ “Multigas” detection tools to monitor the presence of flammable gases and oxygen in the air: follows the detachment of the car battery to avoid any possibility of generation of sparks from the electrical system. The procedures are detailed and oriented to neutralize the risk of accidental trigger. Different is the management for cisterns that transport large quantities of LPG and which represent a potential relevant danger. In the event of an accident, a large safety area is established. NBCR (biological chemical radiological chemical nuclear nuclear power) can proceed, if the conditions allow it, to the labor of LPG on another truck. If this phase is not practicable, The gas is burned in a controlled way with special torches. In the event of a fire, it is often preferred to manage the flames avoiding the formation of loomed gas bags, rather than turning off the fire immediately, thus reducing the danger of secondary explosions.

Distributors

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The recent chronicles have reported the danger of distributors to public attention. The accident that took place on 3 July 2025 in a Roman distributor of the Prenestino district was emblematic: during the LPG exhaust originated a loss that started a first explosion, followed by the development of a fire and a deflation comparable to a bomb. In the event of a serious accident to distributors, the rescue forces, including the firefighters and the health personnel, follow precise protocols: evacuation, closure of the interception valves, continuous monitoring of the concentration of gas and, only if necessary, the possible containment of the flames. In the event of an explosion, an estimate of the damage is carried out and the stability of the surrounding infrastructures is verified. The LPG remains a safe solution if used consciously and periodically maintained. The risks do not emerge from nothing: they can increase due to losses, shock damage and poor maintenance. The firefighters are equipped with advanced tools and specialized teams to intervene quickly in each critical scenario related to LPG, checking the risk for people and the environment.