So form what I am hearing from you guys is.... Don't use a solid stream or fog or anything that will break the burning material up, Use flooding amounts of water.
Or just let it burn if that is an option.
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So form what I am hearing from you guys is.... Don't use a solid stream or fog or anything that will break the burning material up, Use flooding amounts of water.
Or just let it burn if that is an option.
Glad I read on, I was just about to post this exact same response.Quote:
Originally Posted by GTRider245
As odd s it sounds, dirt works great if you don't have the proper class D extinguisher, and I doubt your apparatus carries any class D extinguishers. Unless you work at a factory where flammable metals are used for manufacture.
Be smart about it. The amount of Exotic metal in a modern automobile/lt truck is quite small. Be prepared for fireworks and slowly and steadily cool the material. With STRAIGHT WATER and some patience it WILL go out. Or it will burn itself out. If it's hot enough to light off you aren't " saving" the vehicle anyway. Stay back a bit and cool the area,then mop up. Now a FACTORY full of the stuff? Different tactics ENTIRELY. T.C.
The factory statement came from a recent video clip I came across (recent as in 6-9 months ago) concerning a factory in L. A. As crews were setting up lines and what not, aerials were flowing and the show that followed rivalled the Fourth of July.
The overall purpose of this thread was to gain some know-how on attacking these pesky fires. For some god forsaken reason, the local habitat likes to drag vehicles to remote locations and play jr amature arsonist. By the time we get the call, get to the middle of nowhereland the fires have a serious head start. We have been seeing a lot more Magnesium chunks lately.
Couple this fact with the use of foam on our department and the dumpster fire in Canada that killed at least one FF when fire crews put water and then foam on burning metals, I figured it might be time to investigate this further.
My REAL concern is that my crews are wanting to get up way too close and personal with car fires. Magnesium fireworks displays in the front seat kinda make that a no-no. I appreciate the great technical and strategic input. I will try to use it to better explain the options for a car attack.
I'm FINE with that. You get too close you WILL get magnesium balls thrown at you. In SMALL quantities magnesium CAN be extingushed with water,you just need to move SLOWLY and cool the material below the ignition temp(or sustained burning rate temp). Factory full? I DON'T think so. Stand back and watch. T.C.
I only mentioned the factory because it was an EXTREME fire load. Yeh, they did stand back and watch for a couple of days I think :p
I assume this video is a magnesium incident? Has anyone else seen this?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fireeaterbob
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLoF9...layer_embedded
Produce water fog curtain to shield themselves from the heat of a fire.
If the addition of a fire fighting agent intensifies the reaction (which suggests magnesium has become involved), fire fighting operation with water should be stopped.
If it continues to smoke or sizzle after the flames are out, hydrogen is being produced. The addition of water, if indoors, should be stopped since it can increase hydrogen generation.
I just keep hitting it with water, because I like the bright flash.
Seriously, though, if you add copious amounts of water, you'll do one of two things:
1. Put it out.
2. Make it burn faster, thereby putting it out.
It's just a car, not a magnesium plant. Keep some distance, and put water on it.
What we use in my fire department and at the International Speedway that I volunteer at is a 2.5 gallon water extinguisher filled with 9 quarts of water and 1 quart od Cold Fire. That makes a 10% solution that very quickly cools off the fire and extinguish it. It also works on small alumumin and titainium fires.
One option that no one has addressed is purple K. I know the Navy uses it on Carriers to put out Magnesium wheels on aircraft and keep them from burning big holes in the flight deck.