Presents

Vehicle Fires And And New Technology

Lee Junkins Midsouth Rescue Technologies Ft. Worth, Tx. Welcome to Vehicle Fires And New Technology

Objectives 1. Recognizing the need for a change in our training. 2. We are going to learn to recognize what we are facing on scene. 3. Learn the set rules of vehicle firefighting. 4. Learn the principles of a new aggressive approach to a burning car.

Goals of this class To establish an awareness of what we are facing. To establish an awareness of what we are facing. To establish a need for change in our training. To establish a need for change in our training. To instill the need for skilled training in facing the new technology of today. To instill the need for skilled training in facing the new technology of today. To establish a set of unbreakable rules of safety. To establish a set of unbreakable rules of safety. To develop a set of aggressive attacks that: To develop a set of aggressive attacks that: 1. are general approaches to any car no matter what they may or may not be equipped with. 2. can be easily taught and learned. 3. will give us the most protection possible 4. are simple enough to become routine habits of attack, just like our old training is. (We all do it the same way). 5. every department, no matter how small would have the equipment to initiate.

Sec. #1 Recognizing the need for a change in our training. Recognizing the need for a change in our training.

Like everything in the Fire Service Vehicle Firefighting Has Become A Whole New World

HYBRID VEHICLES

Ni-MH battery pack fire

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

SATURN EV1 SATURN EV1 All-Electric Vehicles

Dual Fuel Vehicles

Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG Compressed Natural Gas CNG

Alternative Fuels Methanol and Ethanol Methanol and Ethanol CAUTION: A fire fueled by methanol CAUTION: A fire fueled by methanol or ethanol burns bright blue and can be difficult to see on a clear day. or ethanol burns bright blue and can be difficult to see on a clear day.

Dangerous?- Extremely! But Have you fought one? Have you seen one? Does one burn in your town every day?

We are going to get into these later. Though they sound more dangerous, we face many things everyday that are more dangerous than all of these. And most of us don’t even think about them.

Before The Late ’70s We worried about gas tanks blowing. We worried about tires blowing. And That was about the only things we had to watch for. That was about the only things we had to watch for.

Our Training Stay away from the tires. “Put out the fire” Approach it cooling the gas tank area.

Late ’70s In an effort to absorb the impact of low speed crashes, manufactures began to install nitrogen gas shocks on their front and rear bumpers. In an effort to absorb the impact of low speed crashes, manufactures began to install nitrogen gas shocks on their front and rear bumpers. After several injuries, the word soon got out, in the fire service. After several injuries, the word soon got out, in the fire service. “These Things Blow-up” !! “These Things Blow-up” !!

Our Training Changed We now approach the car at a 45 degree angle Cooling the gas tank area, and as we get closer, Cool the bumper area.

But Even Today Some Firefighters Do Not Understand The Dangers As you will see in this video. As you will see in this video. Remember the person filming this is not a firefighter. Listen real close to what he is saying, when the second explosion takes place. Then watch where the man is standing, compared to the tire. Remember the person filming this is not a firefighter. Listen real close to what he is saying, when the second explosion takes place. Then watch where the man is standing, compared to the tire. Car fire bumper video

What did you hear? “One tire blew and it was not that loud !” “One tire blew and it was not that loud !” “It wasn’t the gas tank” “It wasn’t the gas tank” Where was the man standing ? The nozzle man was in front of the tire. The man that was hit was in front of the car. So what was it ? Looking at the last views, you can see the bumper missing, and look close, it is laying where the man fell.

Any one still not understand ? Try this ! Why 45 Degrees?

But Then came the ’80s How many ever think about the Air Bags, in a car fire ? How many ever think about the Air Bags, in a car fire ? Will they deploy in a fire ? Will they deploy in a fire ? Let’s See Explosion 1 Video

Do you want to stick your head in the window ? But for years we taught you to knock the fire down, then get in there, and in a circular motion, put it out. But for years we taught you to knock the fire down, then get in there, and in a circular motion, put it out. Is it time for another change in training ? Is it time for another change in training ? Let’s take another look Explosion 2 video

Did you hear what he said ? The air bag, and its’ housing, blew out through the roof. The air bag, and its’ housing, blew out through the roof. We think about air bags deploying in an extrication, but we are dealing with whole housings blowing out in fires. We think about air bags deploying in an extrication, but we are dealing with whole housings blowing out in fires.

How hot are these fires ? Degrees ? The propellant that inflates an air bag is Sodium Azide, ( rocket fuel ). The propellant that inflates an air bag is Sodium Azide, ( rocket fuel ). In the air bag assembly there is an igniter, that sets off a gas canister, that heats the sodium azide to it’s ignition point. In the air bag assembly there is an igniter, that sets off a gas canister, that heats the sodium azide to it’s ignition point. This ignition point is preset at 350 degrees. This ignition point is preset at 350 degrees. Does a car fire get that hot ? Does a car fire get that hot ?

Normally !! Normally !! The air bag will Deploy, and the Nylon bag will melt !

This is a normal deployment.

And even this can be dangerous to the firefighter Piece of air bag 47 ft behind truck This was in the mop up stage, no visible flame at time of deployment

How many were taught this in vehicle fire training ? Air bags came out in the ’70s Air bags came out in the ’70s Every car made has had one since the early ‘80s. Every car made has had one since the early ‘80s. Is it time to change our training Yet ? Is it time to change our training Yet ?