Emergency responder conference unites firefighters, propane industry

Nearly 175 firefighters and propane industry professionals joined forces at the New York State Fire Academy in Montour Falls, N.Y., to learn and share vital propane safety information, response techniques and protocols that are critical to employ during emergencies. The conference, believed to be the first of its kind in New York, included classroom presentations and field demonstrations, such as tank truck product transfers, vehicles that run on propane, and controlling live fire situations involving stationary propane tanks. Participants came away with a much better understanding of how to work together during a propane emergency, organizers said. The New York Propane Gas Association and the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) sponsored the conference. Topics included the evolution of propane emergencies, propane response, mitigation strategies, the propane industry’s future and the announcement of Fire Science Scholarships.