What to do if you smell gas
If you smell gas or hear the flow of escaping gas, follow these steps immediately:
Get out and call:
1-800-663-9911
- Don't smoke, light matches, operate electrical switches, use either cell or telephones, or create any other source of ignition.
- As you leave the building, leave the door open and any windows that may already be open.
- Get to a nearby phone and call the FortisBC 24-hour Emergency Line at
1-800-663-9911, or 911 or the fire department emergency number.
What does natural gas smell like?
Rotten eggs: a bad smell for a good reason
Natural gas and piped propane smell like rotten eggs or sulphur. Natural gas is actually odourless, but we add trace amounts of a chemical called mercaptan, which has a distinctive rotten egg or sulphur-like odour. It smells bad for a good reason! In case of a leak, we want you to be able to detect and identify it.