Fire & Rescue Training Page
This page is used as a training resource to supplement our monthly training.
|
REMINDER: PCFC LIVE FIRE DRILL IS ON MARCH 26th, 2026 If you have been practicing the craft for some time, the chance that you have encountered some sort of gas emergency is very high, and I am certain that almost every firefighter has either seen or will see a propane tank fire at some point, but they really aren't as common as the other calls we respond to. However, I do hope that you don't look at all propane fires, or gas leaks as routine, as a matter of fact, I hope you treat every call as a serious call until you determine otherwise. BLEVEs have continued to injure and kill firefighters across our country, and many times its at an otherwise "ordinary" structure, vehicle, or outside fire. BLEVE stands for Boiling Liquids Expanding Vapor Explosion. I couldn't find any nice work art or illustrations for you, so forgive the bland font. A BLEVE occurs when pressurized containers heat to a a point that the vessel fails. The liquid inside begins to boil, the pressure of the tank increases and weakens the tank shell. Then the tank catastrophically fails, releasing superheated liquid that expands at a crazy rate. The best way I have found to illustrate the expansion ratio to fellow firefighters learning the rate of propane expansion is like this: One Gallon of liquid immediately turns into 270 gallons of vapor. So, One gallon jug is now occupying 270 gallon jugs of space at once. That expansion is what causes fireballs, shockwaves and shrapnel to travel extreme distances very quickly. The primary killer at these types of incidents are most often not the flames, but the explosion and projectiles. NIOSH reports have indicated that firefighters 100+ feet away have been killed due to fragments flying from one of these events, and that fragments have been found almost a half a mile away from the incident locations. I hope you're still with me, because one of the most important parts of this to understand is that when a propane tank has fire impingement, the tank can fail in as little as 10-20 minutes. So, yes, time matters here. We know Time as our enemy, and Speed as our weapon. But remember, these emergencies are not those you rush to without a proper understanding of it or without the proper PPE. A few facts about LP Gas: It is HEAVIER THAN AIR - IT LIKES TO HUG THE GROUND It is colorless It is odorless It is non-toxic Its Chemically Stable It has no taste, but I don't recommend trying it It has a low boiling point at -44 degrees F It can travel a long distance before it finds an ignition source It can create an explosive atmosphere without full saturation - so partial room involvement means danger if the gas is in a closed area. It's ignition can cause a pressure wave and temperatures exceed 1800 degrees F We find LP gas at the most: Our homes for generators, water heaters, heating and cooking (Tanks ranging from 120 gallons - 500 gallons with 250 being a common size), and other applications In vehicles as a fuel, or during transport to a Georgia Bulldogs tailgate (20 lb. cylinders) On railcars Storage Facilities (where they aren't required to add odor) Many industrial sites. WARNING SIGNS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH Immediate Evacuation Triggers Include: High pitched venting noises from relief valves Visible discoloration or charring of the tank Bulging or deformation of the tank shell Flame impingment on the upper vapor space of the tank Increasing flame intensity at the relief valve discharge High Risk Fire Conditions Include: Flame contact on the vapor space (top of the tank) - that is the most dangerous Long duration exposure such as heavy fuel fires and structure involvement Impingement on the tank that cannot be cooled quickly BOTTOM LINE = IF YOU SEE, HEAR, OR FEEL THESE SIGNS >GET OUT> Another reason for a good quality size-up at a fire would include the officer in charge to identify pressure tanks early and establish safe zones when tanks are found close to fire. A quality 360 may save that rookie's you sent to the Charlie Side!!!!! Remember that Distance=Survival at LP gas emergencies So, ALWAYS do you best to operate from maximum distance whenever possible and use unmanned master streams and monitor nozzles when you are able to for tank protection. Avoid positioning apparatus downwind and downslope. And if there are civilians downwind or downslope, change that!! If conditions allow you should apply large volumes of water to the tank shell and focus on cooling the vapor space. NFPA states you need 500 GPM for minimum cooling, so someone must be thinking about water supply early on at these incidents. ONE OF THE BIGGEST MINDSET SHIFTS IN THE MODERN FIRE SERVICE INCLUDES LETTING THE GAS BURN AND NOT EXTINGUISHING THE FLAME, BUT THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO SHUT OFF THE VALVE IF IT IS ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE. IF NOT YOU BEST PROTECT EXPOSURES. COMMON FIREGROUND MISTAKES Tunnel Vision on the Fire Firefighters focusing on the structure fire and vehicle fire but miss the propane cylinders nearby or the fuel-fed hazard escalation FIX THIS BY ASSIGNING A SAFETY OFFICER WHO IS DIALED IN ON IDENTIFYING THESE HAZARDS EARLY FOR YOU Getting Too Close "It's just a grill tank" mindset Advancing Lines inside projectile zones (rounded ends of the tank are high risk areas) -THE REALITY IS EVEN SMALL CYLINDERS CAN ROCKET AND KILL!- Misunderstanding Relief Valves Seeing it vent and thinking to yourself "Oh, Its working properly." The truth is that the relief valve activating is a warning sign, not a safety sign Improper Positioning Operating at the ends of the tank Parking apparatus nearby -THE REALITY IS EXPLOSION DIRECTION IS UNPREDICTABLE!- ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, Watch for vapor cloud ignition and secondary explosions Remember: Distance is your best PPE so to speak Propane Expands at a ratio of 270:1 Relief Valve Noise = Evacuation Trigger Vapor Space impingement is the highest danger If you can't control the gas, let it burn Never trust tank direction in a BLEVE potential Slow down mentally, even when the fire is moving fast, because the calm brings the speed. Train on recognizing the containers with the new guys and gals, read the smoke, the flame, and the tank conditions. DO NOT FORGET THE TANK CONDITIONS BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET A SECOND CHANCE TO FIX THE FIRST MISTAKE HERE......... This post is not all you need to know about BLEVE and LP Gas Emergencies, but I hope it was a good introduction for some and refresher for others. Watch the video below and finish the learning. I hope to see you soon at a live fire training event! BE ABOUT IT!
0 Comments
As you have seen in previous posts, fluid movement is important, whether it be how we move water or how the effects of ventilation cause fire growth. Before the flames ever show themselves at a fire scene, we can count on the fact that the fire is talking to us. ARE YOU LISTENING? The video this week is from Dave Dodson. It is an older video, however, it is still good information. He teaches that smoke is the fire’s first and most honest language. Long before rollover, flashover, or any structural compromise, smoke is giving us real-time information as long you know how to read it. Color, volume, velocity, and density are clues we need to pay attention to. Thick, dark, turbulent smoke under pressure isn’t just what they call bad smoke, it is fuel rich smoke full of energy and looking to cause chaos. Think of it like a bull in a closed up arena ten times too small... He'll be raging to get out. I like to tell folks that the thick dark stuff that looks like you can reach out and grab it is the worst kind of smoke sandwich there is. There isn't much recovery if you get a gulp of that. Light, lazy smoke drifting from multiple openings tells a very different story and Dave Dodson’s approach takes away the guesswork and replaces it with sound decision-making based on observation, and not just your habits. This video is filled with practical teaching and good for street smart firefighting. Reading smoke should be included in everyone's sizeup, whether it is an initial on scene report or a personal sizeup that helps you keep sharp while fighting the fire. Smoke can tell us where fire is without actually seeing fire, it can share what's happening and it will keep us on our toes when we need to change our strategy and tactics. Reading smoke isn't some magical trick, it is however a survival skill. When you see smoke you need to understand what you're looking at. Dave's video will help you do that. Once you start reading smoke the way he teaches it, you don’t unsee it. Your size-ups sharpen. Your timing improves. Your safety grows. And the fireground starts to make a lot more sense. For some of the experienced guys this may be a type of refresher, but for the newer firefighters, this should prove to be invaluable. There will be a few videos below Dave's that will give you a chance to read some smoke, but they wont be near as important as the view you see at the next structure fire you respond to! Also, it is important that we note that ventilation, wind and some construction features can fool us, so be vigilant and always keeping an eye out for these things. Smoke doesn't care about your rank or experience either. The moment you let your guard down is the moment it teaches you that you weren't paying attention. So, constantly be re-checking your smoke read. I will leave you with this - Experience should make you more cautious, not more comfortable. Never settle and think you got it whooped or you might just be the one whooped... Use the following video from the 12:05 minute mark to around the 28 minute mark. |
Archives
March 2026
Categories
All
|