1. FIRE THEORY
WELCOME TO THIS MORNINGS SESSION

2. FIRE THEORY AND FIRE FIGHTING
Circuit and speed marshals
THE SESSION TODAY IS FOR TRAINEE MARSHALS
YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE WORK PLACE, ON CIRCUIT IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
THE PRACTICAL SESSION LATER TODAY WILL GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE EQUIPMENT.

3. It Can Happen Anywhere REMEMBER FIRE CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE.
NOT JUST ON THE CIRCUIT
NOT ALWAYS DURING THE RACE
INCIDENT AT THE SPAINISH GP, OCCURRED AFTER THE WILLIAMS DRIVER WON THE RACE

4. Session trainer today Trainer Slide
PAUL WILTSHIRE - BEEN A RACE MARSHAL FOR 23 YEARS, STARTING MY 24TH YEAR THIS YEAR.
WORKED MY WAY THROUGH THE GRADING SYSTEM AND IS NOW AN EXAMINING POST CHIEF
HAS MARSHALED AT CLUB, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.
MARSHALED FOR TOURING CARS, F3 GT’S, GOODWOOD, ALSO AT GRAND PRIX IN THE UK AND ABU DHABI, DUBHAI.
WORKED IN THE NHS FOR 28 YEARS IN MAINTENANCE. CARRIED OUT MANY ROLES FROM STERILISER REPAIRS, SUPERVISOR, AND LATERLY AS THE TRUSTS FIRE AND WASTE OFFICER.
CARRYING OUT STAFF TRAINING AND FIRE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. BEFORE TAKING EARLY RETIREMENT IN 2011.
ATTENDED THE MSA TRAIN THE TRAINER COURSE IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR AN MSA PROBATIONARY TRAINER . THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ME TODAY.

5. Evaluation - evaluation sheet for you to fill in thank you
Opening
Course Outline -
Fire theory
Equipment used on circuit
Questions – As we go
Duration mins
Evaluation - evaluation sheet for you to fill in thank you

6. To preserve the vehicle
Fire Fighting
Outcomes
To preserve life
To preserve the vehicle
Aims
Fight fires
Safely, Effectively and Rapidly
Reach a burning vehicle and have the fire under control or extinguished
At fixed venues in 30 seconds
At non-fixed venues as quickly as possible
NO PLACING YOURSELF IN DANGER
EFFECTIVELY PUTTING OUT THE FIRE USING THE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED.
30 SECS YES, BUT SAFETLY.
YOU WILL BE SHOWN IN THE PRACTICAL SESSION LATER TODAY HOW TO CARRY AN EXTINGUISHER
HOW TO USE THE EXTINGUISHER CORRECTLY

7. OXYGEN HEAT FUEL The Triangle of Fire Remove one element The fire dies
You must have three things in order to have a fire
Something to burn
Oxygen
Enough heat to raise the material to its ignition temperature.
Open discussion - get the attendees to name different fuels/volatility/persistence –
Petrol
Methanol
Diesel
Batteries
Magnesium
Bodywork
Trim
Etc. etc.
Remove any one and the fire will go out.
You can:
Remove heat with a cool liquid - water, foam - or a dry powder extinguisher
Remove fuel - turn off the fuel supply, remove flammable materials or remove the vehicle from the flammable material – for example, push it off dry grass and onto hard standing.
Remove Oxygen - seal with foam

8. Classification Of Fire Types
Class A Solids - Mainly carbon based combustibles
e.g - Wood, Plastic, Paper
Class B Flammable liquids. E.g Petrol, Oil, Alcohol
Class C Gases - Not common on circuit, but some touring cars run on LPG
Class D Certain metals. E.g Magnesium, Aluminium
Class F High temperature cooking oils.
Metals can be found as component parts in race engines or wheels. Magnesium burns fiercely with a bright white light.
hard to extinguish, will burn even under water. Safest thing to do is bury it, never handle it. Foam may make it burn more intensely.
LPG raises other problems. the best way to put the fire out is to isolate the fuel source. this was highlighted in touring cars. Cordon off the area, use large foam based or water bowsers to cool down the LPG storage tanks.
Some cpmponents found in engine compartments are dangerous - if they come into contact with the skin. These are mainly fluoroelastomers – rubber compounds which degrade to form hydrofluoric acid when burned and water is added – causes burns which are impossible to stop. Get to hospital FAST! Do not touch the wounds. Calcium glutinate gel will slow the burn, but not stop it. Another reason always to wear gloves!

9. Dry Powder extinguishers
Knocks down flames
Removes oxygen
No cooling or sealing properties
Make sure the wind is behind you
Use in short bursts
Empty in 20 seconds
Start from 12 feet / 4 metres away
Direct at base of fire
Stored pressure extinguishers operate slightly faster than the other type.
Use the Dry Powder extinguisher first to knock the flames down.
Make sure the wind is behind you and deliver short bursts of powder. If you just squeeze the trigger you will exhaust the extinguisher in about 20 seconds.
If the driver is still in the car, you should focus on keeping the flames away from the cockpit. If the driver is out, target the main seat of the fire.
Make sure you don’t walk through any flames and start from about 12 feet away, directing the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
If you get too close, the pressure will spread the flames.
Dry powder extinguishers provide cooling and, if the powder is a special type of powder called Monex, it also interferes with the chemical reaction sustaining the fire.

10. Dry Powder Checks Stored pressure Pin Pipe Powder Pressure Weight
Cartridge
Pin
Pipe
Powder
Weight
European Union regulations say fire extinguishers must be red or unpainted stainless steel with a coloured label or band to indicate the type of extinguisher.
A Blue label indicates a Dry Powder extinguisher. The extinguisher is two thirds full of powder, with Nitrogen or air under pressure, stored in the extinguisher itself or Carbon Dioxide, stored in a sealed cylinder inside the extinguisher which is punctured when the trigger is squeezed.
The stored pressure extinguisher can be distinguished by the fact it has a pressure gauge.
You should check the:
Pin - ensure the pin is present and secure.
Pressure - if the extinguisher has a pressure gauge, check the needle is in the middle section of the gauge.
Pipe - check the hose is not blocked and is intact. Hoses become frayed with age and damaged where they bend.
Powder - The powder in an extinguisher will settle and form a plug at the bottom if the extinguisher is left to stand for a long period. Turn the extinguisher upside down and put it on your shoulder. Listen for the powder moving. If it does not, shake the extinguisher to loosen it.
Weight - be suspicious of light bottles.
Always ask for a replacement if you suspect the extinguisher may not work when you need it!

11. Foam Excludes air by forming a film over the surface
Provides additional cooling
Allow to fall on the surface
Wash clothing if you get foam on yourself to avoid damage
AGAIN THE FOAM TYPE EXTINGUISHER IS FOUND IN TWO DESIGNS, STORED PRESSURE AND CARTRIDGE.
BOTH HAVING THE SAME FEATURES AS THE DRY POWDER TYPE

12. Foam Checks Stored pressure Pin Pipe Pressure Weight Cartridge Pin
THE CHECKS ARE THE SAME AGAIN AS FOR THE DRY POWDER TYPE
Again - Always ask for a replacement if you suspect the extinguisher may not work when you need it!

13. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Not commonly found on circuit, but often used in pits/paddock/assembly area
Quickly snuffs out brake or small petrol fires
Used commonly to fight electrical equipment fires.
The only type to be used on an electrical fire if the electric supply is not turned off
Used on the startline at drag racing to snuff out Nitrous Oxide fires
Does not work well in open spaces with high winds
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14. Extinguisher uses RED _ WATER EXTINGUISHER,
used for class “A” fires (wood, paper, textiles) carbon based materials – not usually found on circuits
BLUE _ DRY POWDER
suited to mixed fire environments, good all round extinguisher, used for class “B” fires as well as class “A”. fast knockdown, poor cooling
CREAM _ FOAM EXTINGUISHER
often clled aqueous film forming foam or AFFF, used on class “A” and “B” fires. Slow to knock down fire but cools and seals
BLACK - CO2 EXTINGUISHER
can be used for class “b” fires, especially for electrical products. often used in the pits to control engine fires. Works well if not too much wind. Quick knock down, no sealing or cooling. No damage to the vehicle
YELLOW - WET CHEMICAL
you will not see these on circuit, used for class “f” cooking oil/deep fat fryers

15. Teamwork – 4x2 four marshals, two types of extinguisher
A team of four – two with powder, two with foam
One person leads
Approach from upwind side if possible
Use the powder and foam extinguishers in pairs
The powder extinguishers are used first to beat down the flames
The foam extinguishers are then used to cool and smother the fire.
Work as a team
Controlled bursts
Use the extinguishant to fight the fire
DO NOT GET TOO CLOSE!
Stress the teamwork aspect – better to wait for help than go it alone.
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16. On-board Systems Mechanical or electrical One or two bottles
Twice as much to engine bay as cockpit
Foam-based
Can be thermally triggered
May not work upside down
ALL CARS SHOULD HAVE BUILT IN FIRE SUPPRESSANT SYSTEMS UNDER THE MSA REGULATIONS
ONE THING TO CHECK IF YOU ARE WORKING IN THE PADDOCK ON THE DUMMY GRID
DRIVERS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO LEAVE THE THE PINS IN
EVEN FOUND A SCREWDRIVER IN ONE

17.   Dressed for Action WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST? LEFT OR RIGHT?
WEAR THE CORRECT CLOTHING, MAN MADE FIBRES WILL MELT AND STICK TO THE SKIN, NATURAL MATERIALS ARE BEST
EVEN IN SUMMER TIME, COVER UP
DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS
ALWAYS USE GLOVES WHEN FIGHTING A FIRE OR JUST ATTENDING AN INCIDENT

18. Be careful with waterproofs Cover your arms Don’t clash with the flags
Protective Clothing
Wear natural fibres
Be careful with waterproofs
Cover your arms
Don’t clash with the flags
Loose fitting gloves (or specific marshalling ones)
Stout boots
Eye protection
WELDING GLOVES ARE IDEAL, THEY CAN BE REMOVED EASILY
STRONG BOOTS NOT TRAINERS
SOME PEOPLE WEAR NOMEX TYPE UNDERWEAR (LIKE THE DRIVERS WEAR
PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE FIRE MARSHALS ROLES.
ALL CAN WEAR THEM

19. REMEMBER GOES WITHOUT SAYING - OR DOES IT?
MOTORSPORT IS DANGEROUS, WE ARE HERE TO REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF THAT DANGER
IF IN DOUBT ASK AN EXPERIENCED MARSHAL OR THE POST CHIEF
BE SAFE
YOUR SAFETY FIRST
THEN YOUR FELLOW MARSHALS
THEN THE DRIVER
FORGET THE CAR

20. KEEP SAFE WE WANT SAFE HEROS SO REMEMBER YOUR SAFETY FIRST
YOUR FELLOW MARSHALS SAFETY
THEN THE DRIVERS SAFETY

21. With the support of the Motor Sport Training Trust
Acknowledgements
With the support of the Motor Sport Training Trust