I have a gas fireplace and on a windy day the pilot light actually went out. My dad said that even though the pilot light isn't on it's emitting gas into the house- which is a health hazard, but I thought that as long as the switch that turns on the light is off there is no risk. Can anyone tell me what's correct? And who do I contact to get it re-lit? Thanks.

Kathy

I may be able to give you an idea about what is correct; You ask who you contact to get it re-lit? If you have never re-lit it that is going to make it a little harder to tell you, but somewhere you have a control that controls the gas, it should have a knob on it that shows; Off--Pilot--On. Also you have the pilot light somewhere under the logs, (here I am assuming that you have imitation logs.) If you will turn the knob to Off and leave it for ten minutes or so, so any gas that has escaped can dissipate, Now turn the knob to pilot and hold a match or lighter to the pilot, if it lights that means that gas is escaping from your pilot at all times that it is not turned off. But while you have the knob turned to pilot and have the lighter at the pilot and it does not light that means that you have a thermocouple and it is safe if the plot goes out. Now to light the pilot turn the knob to pilot and look for a button that you can push in, when you find it put a lighter to the pilot and push the button in, the pilot should light. Hold this button for around thirty seconds and then release. If pilot stays lit then you can turn to the on position.
Your system can be a little different from what I described but should be very similar.

If the pilot is not 100% safety shut off then gas will still come out of the pilot when the flame is extinguished.

Make sure your pilot orifice is not partially restricted. If it is the pilot can be put out much easier by a down draft.

letmetellu gave you great info as far for lighting that pilot.