With more than 300 natural gas wells in the city, Arlington plans to begin sending firefighters for specialized training from a Houston firm in techniques to protect neighborhoods better during well fires, gas releases and other industry-related incidents.

The City Council is set to vote Tuesday on a $96,000 contract with Wild Well Control of Houston to train at least 48 firefighters and six fire inspectors over two years.

As soon as next month, Arlington firefighters are expected to be fighting simulated gas well fires, oil leaks and gas leaks at Wild Well Control's training field, Assistant Fire Chief Jim Self said.

Besides giving firefighters information to keep themselves safe, Self said, the training will give the city a better understanding of what it can do to mitigate damage to the well site and neighborhoods until the company's control team arrives.

"We need to understand the impact to our neighborhoods if something happens so we can manage it earlier," Self said. "There is going to be a gap when our firefighters arrive on the scene and when the gas well control company caps the well."

TVNL Comment:  The gas and oil industries insist that their wells are SAFE and present no environmental danger.  That is a LIE. Wake up, America.

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