ROCKLAND — As more businesses, public buildings and homes switch over to natural gas and propane, and as communities prepare for pipeline infrastructure, so too are area fire departments stepping up their training with gas-fired emergencies. On Sept. 3, as dusk settled in, 18 Rockport and six Rockland firefighters gathered at the Rockland transfer station to learn more about combatting fires that originate with gas.

Currently, larger businesses in the region are converting to gas. Pen Bay Medical Center is installing a 36,000 gallon gas tank and a nearby Rockport subdivision is installing underground gas storage tanks. FMC, on the Rockland waterfront, is converting its plant from oil to gas.

According to Fire Engineering, “There are 2.5 million miles of pipelines nationwide; in Pennsylvania alone, there are 46,000 miles of natural gas pipelines, which would go around the circumference of the earth twice.”

Gas and propane have characteristics, and the purpose of the Sept. 3 training was to practice extinguishing their fires.

Rockland firefighters were the instructors Wednesday evening, and Maritime Energy contributed the fuel so that all firefighters could be involved with the drills.

“A big thank-you to Maritime Energy for donating the propane,” said Rockport Fire Chief Jason Peasley.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657