11/09/2023
AVISTA NATURAL GAS OUTAGE
WEDNESDAY November 8, 2023 5:30PM
A main natural gas line has been damaged north of Pullman. That line damage will cause or is causing natural gas outages in the region. Lewiston, Clarkston and Asotin residents will be without natural gas as soon as this evening. Please see this release from AVISTA:
Avista monitoring natural gas pipeline incident near Pullman
Customer impacts expected throughout Palouse and Lewis-Clark Valley
SPOKANE, Wash. Nov. 8, 2023: This afternoon, Avista was alerted to an incident impacting the Williams Pipeline natural gas system between the cities of Pullman and Colfax. The Williams Pipeline is one of several natural gas pipeline companies that Avista contracts with for the wholesale transportation of natural gas. This incident is expected to have downstream impacts on the ability to serve customers in the Albion, Pullman, Palouse, and Lewiston/Clarkston regions.
As a result of this incident, for safety reasons and due to expected low gas pressure, Avista crews will likely have to disconnect gas service to impacted customers.
Avista is working with Williams Pipeline and the incident command team to understand their planned restoration efforts and to assess the potential severity of impacts to the Avista system. Avista will provide additional information regarding impacts to customers as more information becomes available.
Asotin County Fire Dist. # 1 is recommending the following safety tips if you are going to use an electric space heater in your home:
Space Heater Safety Tips
• Keep your heater at least 3 feet away from flammable materials, including curtains and blankets.
• Place your heater on a flat, stable surface.
• Ensure your heater is in a low-traffic area that isn’t blocking an exit.
• Don’t operate your heater near water. (Except if you’re using a waterproof bathroom space heater.)
• Plug your heater directly into the wall outlet – do not use an extension cord.
• Don’t run your heater’s cord under a rug or carpet. It may become damaged.
• Don’t operate a heater you know is damaged.
• If you have a fuel-burning space heater, make sure your room is ventilated properly.
• Never leave your heater unattended. Turn it off when you go to sleep.
• Gas Vs. Electric Space Heaters
• Gas-fueled space heaters usually use propane, kerosene, or another fuel to create heat. Their pilot light burns the gas as fuel to warm the room. Electric space heaters plug into a standard electrical wall socket.
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• In addition to the general hazards of using a space heater, portable gas heaters can create deadly carbon monoxide if your room isn’t ventilated properly. They employ an open flame and flammable gas, so many are not a great choice for safe indoor warmth.
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• Companies label their heaters for indoor, outdoor, or multi-purpose use. Follow all manufacturer guidelines when it comes to safe use.
• Electric space heaters are generally the safer and more practical option compared to gas heaters. However, gas heaters are usually less expensive to run and more energy efficient.
• 📌 SAFETY TIP!!!
We recommend using carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors in your home. Whether you’re using a space heater or not, these products provide peace of mind. The NFPA has tips on installation of both carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Test them regularly to ensure they’re operating properly.
• When purchasing a space heater, there are a few common styles to choose from: convection, radiant, and conductive.
• Convection space heaters
• Convection space heaters produce heat as air passes over a heating element. They slowly create long-lasting heat. Convection heaters offer quiet operation and may have a fan to circulate heat.
• Radiant space heaters
• Radiant space heaters pass liquid through a system of pipes to generate warmth. They are a great option for quick heating.
• Conductive space heaters
• Conductive space heaters use electricity to produce heat via heating elements (usually metal coils). They create warmth by having direct contact with another object or person. For example, heated seats in a vehicle are conductive heat.
For any emergency call 9-1-1
