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Earthquakes do not cause fires, but they do rattle things around a lot. So if you have a fireplace or a furnace, the earthquake can rattle the coals out of the fireplace, or knock down your wood-burning stove.
If you have natural gas or propane heating, the earthquake can break the gas pipe, allowing the gas to leak; if there's any kind of ignition source, this can cause a natural gas fire. In a severe earthquake, rubble can fall down and puncture a propane tank leading to a fire or explosion.
Unfortunately, a severe earthquake is also likely to rupture the underground water mains. So in addition to releasing the fire, it can also cripple the fire hydrants, which will make it very difficult for firemen to extinguish the fire.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoseismic waves can break gas lines water lines and electrical lines
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What can Tectonic Plate activity cause?
Most often earthquakes, volcanoes, and rift valleys.
How often do large earthquakes happen along the San Andreas?
There are numerous earthquakes every day along the faultline, however many are weak and cause little or no damage.
Is fire a major problem after earthquake?
It often can be. The earthquake can break gas lines and electricity lines which cause the fires.
How can utilities be made safer to avoid damage during and after earthquakes?
Often much of the damage during earthquakes comes from fires and flooding caused by damaged utilities. Gas pipes or water mains can be broken during the earthquakes. Flexible joints in the lines can protect them from breakage and automatic shut-off valves can be used to stop gas and water flow.
Do tectonic plates meet where earthquakes often occur?
Yes.
How does an earthquakes cause each of these types of damage?
Earthquakes cause direct damage when the seismic disturbance weakens and collapses buildings and other infrastructures not built to withstand the tremors. This often causes great loss of life. Other damage caused by earthquakes results from landslides, mudslides, avalanches, fires, soil liquefaction and tsunamis.
Is a fire a secondary effect of earthquakes?
Fire is often, but not always a secondary effect of earthquakes. If the earthquake strikes a populated area, it is likely to break natural gas pipes, and to cause other damage in human structures that will result in fires. In an unpopulated region, an earthquake may not cause a fire.
Does fire often occur after earthquakes and why?
yes because the friction of the tectonic plates produces heat leading to fires
How can waste water cause earthquakes?
Earthquakes can be very messy. Buildings collapse, and there are often fires because controlled fires such as those of a stove become uncontrolled when there is too much structural damage. Things stored in sealed containers can leak out. Pipes break. All of this leads to a certain amount of pollution.
How does an earthquake cause each of these types of damage?
Earthquakes cause direct damage when the seismic disturbance weakens and collapses buildings and other infrastructures not built to withstand the tremors. This often causes great loss of life. Other damage caused by earthquakes results from landslides, mudslides, avalanches, fires, soil liquefaction and tsunamis.
How can earthquakes cause fire?
Earthquakes often break gas mains, causing flammable natural gas to fill damaged spaces. This easily catches fire from electrical sparks or automobiles. Power lines can cause fires due to damage by falling trees, buildings, and so on. Earthquakes destroy kitchens, throwing cooking fuel around in places where kerosene, butane, or alcohol are used for fuel. Earthquakes damage chimneys on homes and people unknowingly build fires which jump from damaged chimneys into attics and onto roofs. To make matters worse, an earthquake can damage the water mains that supply the fire hydrants that are needed put out the fires. The Great Fire of San Francisco (1906) was the result of an earthquake.
What can Tectonic Plate activity cause?
Most often earthquakes, volcanoes, and rift valleys.
Do volcanic eruptions cause earthquakes?
Not usually. Although earthquakes often occur before a volcanic eruption, they are not the cause. The earthquakes are the result of magma (molten rock) moving underground leading up to an eruption. A few volcanic eruptions are thought to have been triggered or initiated by earthquakes, but this is not the typical case.
How is fire an earthquake hazard?
Earthquakes often cause gaslines to burst and electricity cables to fall. These (and the usual dropped candles, damaged heaters and simple arson) can result in fires that will cause massive further damage to any stricken area if they are not controlled e.g. parts of the city after the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.
How often do large earthquakes happen along the San Andreas?
There are numerous earthquakes every day along the faultline, however many are weak and cause little or no damage.
Is fire a major problem after earthquake?
It often can be. The earthquake can break gas lines and electricity lines which cause the fires.
Where do earthquakes occur in the United States for kids?
Earthquakes occur on the west side of the United states of America. The state of California is often hit by earthquakes. This is because there is a fault line cause by the tectonic plates on the western coast of America.
