CBz Realistic "Hey, that could really happen!" FFuN Training - LPG Fire Scenario

CBz Realistic "Hey, that could really happen!" FFuN Training
LPG Fire Scenario 

911 Dispatch: Engine 1, respond to the Chevron gas station at March Lane and Bianchi Lane on a reported vehicle fire next to a 500-gallon LPG tank.  

You arrive on scene and discover a fully involved taco truck that caught fire as employees were attempting to fill its propane tanks at a gas station. 


When the truck burst into flames, the gas station and immediate areas were evacuated by local law enforcement.  A nearby elementary school brought kids in off the playground and went into a lockdown as a precaution until they hear word from you. Apparently, workers had just filled a 50 gallon tank on the taco truck with propane from a 500 gallon tank at the gas station.  The workers were attempting to get some air out of the lines when some propane escaped and was ignited by a pilot light still burning in the truck.

Summary:
  • The taco truck is fully involved upon arrival
  • Nearby elementary school in voluntary lockdown
  • There are no reports of injuries
  • 50-Gallons LPG on Taco Truck  
  • 500-Gallons LPG Gas Station Storage Tank
Hint:
          Master stream can be seen in the provided photograph...
  • Is this overkill? 
  • Would you use a master stream appliance at this type of incident and why?
  • What are your tactics and concerns for this incident?
  • And how about that school in voluntary lockdown?
CBz :D


Remember, Failure to Prepare is Preparing for Failure... Be Prepared...

Cheat Link: http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2011/04/05/taco-truck-goes-up-in-fla...

(Don't look at this until after you think about your tactics and strategy.) 

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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on July 31, 2011 at 7:12pm
three issues (1) the 500 gallon LPG tank (2) the burning taco truck (3) the fuel station.
A master stream should be set up to keep the 500 gal tank cool.
Another master stream should be set up to extinguish the Taco truck
Plus water streams to keep the Service station cool and protected.
Evacuation of street and area surrounding the service station.
Fun stuff!!!!
Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on July 31, 2011 at 7:55pm
The primary hazard is the LPG tank.

Establish water supply on the way in and then apply max water on the LPG tank if it's not leaking - max water to cool the vapor space but to allow the fire to burn for the short term if it is leaking. Yes, I'd use a master stream if I had the water supply to support it.

2nd due extinguishes the taco truck fire ASAP - use Class A foam if no liquid fuel leak and Class B if there is a liquid fuel leak. A foam handline should be sufficient for this - use two if necessary.

3rd due protects the gas station exposure - a master stream with water fog should take care of it.

This gets a 2nd alarm for additional water supply and a hazmaat team - we have at least two LDH supply lines out and possibly a 3rd.

Liaison with the water utility is a high priority - they need to boost water supply to this grid - quickly.

If the LPG tank is leaking, the hazmat team will hopefully be able to control the leak. If the leak is something simply like a product discharge hose, this might be as simple as shutting down a valve.

I'd shelter the school kids in place unless the tank had the rapid potential for a BLEVE. If that were the case, every drop of water I could get from the 3 first-alarm engines goes on the LPG tank and extinguishes the fire, if possible. Subsequent leaks can be dispersed with the master streams to buy time to evacuate the exposures.
Permalink Reply by Benbesher on July 31, 2011 at 8:17pm
i would use a master stream for cooling on 500 gal LPG tank to avoid the BLEVE in case the heat effects, and would set up a water curtain down wind of the LPG tank and between the fire source and the service station mean time make effort to control the fire on Taco truck.
thanks mike .
Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on July 31, 2011 at 8:36pm
Water curtains are essentially useless unless applied directly on the exposure. Using a 2nd master stream applied on the exposure will be much more effective.
Permalink Reply by Benbesher on July 31, 2011 at 8:48pm
Thanks BEN,but what about if we have LPG vapor cloud due to the leak how you would avoid the immigrate of vapor cloud to the fire source or vice versa.
Permalink Reply by Ernie Scheinert on July 31, 2011 at 10:00pm
I would definitely agree with the use of the master streams, however, I am a little puzzled by the placement of the apparatus as the picture seems to indicate. It appears that it is set up downwind of the incident as well as in line with the endcap of the vessel, whereas, I thought one would normally try to position apparatus upwind to an incident and more perpendicular to a pressure vessel for a master stream.
Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on July 31, 2011 at 10:27pm
The vapor cloud can be dispersed with narrow fog master streams applied to the LPG tank.
Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on August 1, 2011 at 2:06am
When I chose the photo, and it was an incident in Stockton, CA, and to be totally honest, I was not looking at wind direction as much as I was focusing on master stream usage. Any vapors involved on this one were vented from the truck fire and the involved 50-gallon tank.  The master stream was defensive only with no actual release of product. But still, uphill and up wind should apply. Good catch on the details. 
Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on August 1, 2011 at 5:58am
You don't always have the upwind and uphill option. Sometimes you have to go with what the incident giver you.
Permalink Reply by Moose on August 1, 2011 at 9:56am
Im surprised no one mentioned rescuing the tacos...Where is everyoned priorities here!?

Nice job picking up the details about the position of the attack engine in regards to wind direction, thats always key but like Ben states, sometimes you just do not have the luxury. In real world stuff outside of the classroom you get dealt with the craziest situations which is why creativity and an open mind come in handy some times as an officer.

Myself, I agree. The truck is long gone and not worth the effort to save. Put the water on the tank and cool it off, establish a secure water supply and a back up engine in case something happens to the master stream and than let the water do the job. Keep the kids in place until the fire is out and the area is checked for propane. I know I might start a big thing here and get yelled at, but Im just stating my opinion here; the propane tanks today have a lot of fail-safes on them and are built better. If you keep them cool enough they are safe. If you pull up and its self venting already with the large cone of fire straight up in the air and the loud whistling sound, THAN you might want to check your insurance poilicy but if you get it early enough and keep it cool you are relatively safe.

My only concern again is the tacos. LOL
Good post as always Mike, keeps us thinking!
Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on August 1, 2011 at 9:51pm
You just have to rescue the stringy Oaxhuaca cheese, don't you?
Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on August 1, 2011 at 9:57pm
How on earth does Moose's post relate to a cheese that requires stretching and pulling? I think you are pulling our leg, not the cheese unless you are saying that the Taco trucks in Hilton Head only use Oaxhuaca cheese? Once again, cheese knows no limits... :D CBz

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