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How do earthquakes cause a fire in buildings

Dear student,

Fires, often associated with broken electrical and gas lines, is one of the common side effects of earthquakes. Gas is set free as gas lines are broken and a spark will start bringing "inferno". To complicate things water lines are broken and so there is no water to extinguish the fire.  Quakes also cause electrical power lines to break, as poles are tipped, making sparks which start fires wherever there is flammable material.
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It is a huge wave caused by an earthquake under the ocean. Tsunamis can be tens of feet high when they hit the shore and can do enormous damage to the coastline. ... The fourth main earthquake hazard is fire. These fires can be started by broken gas lines and power lines, or tipped over wood or coal stoves
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The earthquake fire can be started by broken gas lines and power lines, or tipped over wood or coal stoves. They can be a serious problem, especially if the water lines that feed the fire hydrants are broken, too.
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Earthquakes move the ground sufficiently, often with very sudden, sharp jolts, so they are able to break gas pipes buried in the earth and leaking gas can result in explosions & be ignited by sparks of metal falling together, etc. Quakes also cause electrical power lines to break, as poles are tipped, making sparks which start fires wherever there is flammable material.
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