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Fire in the Air By: Shane Kirchhoffer and Presley Pritchard Whitefish High School Mr. Spangler's Chemistry Class

Inspiration We got our idea from our interest in firefighting to do our project. Presley works with the Whitefish Fire Department and thought it would be a better idea than the project we already had in mind before. We talked with the Chief and he said that it would be okay to test the air quality in both Whitefish stations because of the air quality issues that come with fires, firefighting equipment, and vehicles.

Station 21 Two story, brick building constructed in 1929 The flat roof consists of rubber membrane The first floor contains the engine bay, storerooms, a bathroom, and an office. The second floor contains bedrooms, office space, a dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and workout area. The front of the building has three garage doors and the back has three also. Two stairwells connect the up and downstairs areas as well as the fire pole which is located behind engine 251 (a.k.a the Rescue). Windows upstairs are small and are placed near the upper ceiling. Windows downstairs consist of the garage door windows.

Old rooftop

South Station Two story, brick building constructed in 1998 The first floor contains the engine bay, separated from the classroom, bathroom, and kitchen area. The second floor is above the bay area and contains a few bedrooms and lounge. The front of the building consists of four garage doors, as does the back. One, open, metal stairwell connects the bay to the upstairs. Windows are located in the garage doors. Windows in the classroom and kitchen area are small.

Method Air tests for ultrafine particulates were taken with the Dust-Trak™ We tested two fire stations here in or around Whitefish. Each time the Dust-Trak™ was at waist and head height while testing. We tested Station 21 from 4:00 P.M. until 10:00 P.M. We tested the South Rural Station from 7:00 P.M. until 10:00 P.M.

South Station

Station 21

Vehicle Exhaust Contains carbon monoxide, water vapor, and soot Vapors from diesel fuel, and motor oil contain volatile organic compounds Water vapor from hose Rubber odors Residues from fires Particulate importance

Potential Pathways Fire pole shaft Utility holes Engine bays Bay doors Stairwells

Results EPA Outdoor Maximum

Results 7:00 9:00

Resolution Mechanical exhaust ventilation Keep all doors and windows closed at all times Ensure utility holes are sealed properly Ensure tightness around bay doors Change filters for HVAC equipment Keep the fan on for constant ventilation Clean regularly Inspect roof for damage Replace water-damaged ceiling tiles

References http://www.arb.ca.gov/aqd/oldpm10/A2S2199.htm http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/environmental/iaq/towns_a_d/amesbury_fd.pdf http://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html

Questions?