Leader photos/ALY GIBSON Flames reaching several feet into the air were controlled by the Michigan Propane Gas Association as county fire departments worked together to extinguish them properly. Cass County fire departments joined the Michigan Propane Gas Association in Jones Tuesday for a state-certified fire safety class.

The Michigan Propane Gas Association gave Cass County fire departments the opportunity to battle controlled propane fires in Jones Tuesday evening as part of a safety training exercise and class.

The Michigan Propane Gas Association (MPGA) solicited the use of the Emergency Training Team to help teach firefighters the proper way to extinguish blazes produced from propane gas. The class and demonstration were a free state-accredited opportunity for all county fire departments.

The class covered basic propane information, which was followed by the hands-on activity of putting out several burning propane tanks one at a time.

“Propane is a useful, safe and efficient tool for making our lives safer and more comfortable,” MPGA President Don Rittersdorf said.
“This training raises awareness about the benefits of propane and provides important safety information.”
Each demonstration proved to be more difficult than the last, with flames reaching more than 60 feet in the air at times.
Katie Millirans, a volunteer firefighter with the Marcellus Fire Department, said the class taught them how to approach a propane fire and techniques for extinguishing the flames safely.
According to MPGA, more than 500 gallons of propane were used for the demonstration.