Officials are warning residents about a safety hazard linked to a number of in New Hampshire over the past four years. According to State Fire Marshal J. William Degnan, flexible stainless steel gas tubing, used in homes and other buildings since the early 1990’s, presents a severe fire hazard from lightning strikes unless it is properly installed. There have been at least eight fires since 2008 resulting in moderate to severe structural damage related to corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST). The danger arises when this tubing is not properly grounded, allowing it to become energized if lightning strikes near a building. Degnan said the tubing is used with natural gas and propane installations and can be identified by its yellow coating.  He urged building owners to have their gas systems inspected. (For more information building owners can contact their local fire department, the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov, or visit the CSST website at www.csstsafety.com)