Why Do Earthquakes Often Cause Damaging Fires?

It is commonly known that earthquakes can cause catastrophic structural damage, but it is not as well known that earthquakes can also cause damaging fires. Earthquakes cause fires when they damage residential and business gas and electrical lines, creating natural gas leaks and downing power lines coursing with current.

As these lines break or are damaged, fires can start and become difficult to control, especially with such widespread structural damage and rescue operations taxing emergency services.

Read on to learn how to prevent a fire after an earthquake.

If you’ve just suffered from an earthquake or fire and need help recovering, choose Rainbow Restoration. Call for 24/7 emergency service.

Outside of infrastructure damage, fires may also be encountered after earthquakes. Fires are often caused by broken or damaged lines that cause a spark after coming into contact with flammable home substances or structures. Broken water lines obviously don’t start fires, but once the water lines are damaged, there is nothing to put these fires out, so they ultimately intensify and grow.
After an earthquake there is one main thing you can do to make sure your home is safe from a gas leak: turning off your gas line until the utility company can turn it back on for you. This is especially important if you smell gas in your home following a tremor. If you are in need of emergency services, the experts at Rainbow Restoration are standing by 24/7 to help.
- Make sure everyone is safe and no one is injured
- Evacuate your home and check on structural damage
- Turn your gas and water off if necessary
If you smell gas (rotten eggs), hear the sound of it escaping, or see other signs of a leak, you should immediately turn your gas off.

Here are the necessary steps to turn it off:
- Find the shut-off valve, which could be in the location from your valve to your meter or on the line from your meter going into your house.
- Use a wrench to turn the valve horizontal to turn your gas off. If the valve is parallel to the pipe, it is open. Turn it so it is perpendicular.
Need help restoring your home or business after an earthquake or fire? Choose Rainbow Restoration. We offer a full suite of disaster remediation services designed to get you back into your home or business, fast. Call or schedule an appointment online today to get started.

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Why Do Earthquakes Often Cause Damaging Fires?

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