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Coal Fires
We have a power plant in our fire district that burns 2-3 train loads of coal per day depending on the usage. They just came off of a shut down that lasted 10 weeks and the coal in the storage bins sat there. While trying to start back up the coal of course self combusted. I'm wondering, how many of you deal with coal fires and what types of foam do you use. We are currently using F500. This is supposed to be the top of the line that the power plant purchased and they also bought a penetrating nozzle that has multiple extensions. This enables us to get the pipe further down into the piles. We are constantly getting called out there and the calls usually last between 3 - 5 hours. We have gone overnight with them on one Christmas Eve. I sometimes wonder if they pay us enough for fire protection. Not only that but we cover for confined space as well. Sorry, just tired from spending 5 hours out there Thursday night.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dewayne and Diana Bean on
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The coal must be turned frequently in order to keep the coal from starting to burn on it's own and as for confined space entry you must be certified for confined space entry which will increase the amount that you can charge for these runs. As for the frequent returns if they would frequently take a dozer and or loader and move the coal pile around that will prevent this from happening, I know this because I am a coal miner by proffession and this is how we do it and we have yet to have a coal fire because we turn and disturb our coal piles daily, even during shut downs. I would up the amount charged and request that they frequently turn the piles in order to reduce the amount of runs and if they do and the frequent return runs decrease then drop the dues back down but until then raise the amount charged higher than the orginal amount and I am sure that they would then start turning the piles. Good Luck and God Bless each and everyone of you and protect you during these and all runs for coal piles when they start to burn deep inside they begin to open a void (air pocket) and climbing on these can be very dangerous and if you were to fall thru a large pile then may God be with you and your dept so please use extra caution when on these types of runs even if you must tie and use a safety line to each firefighter.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Acosta on
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Thanks for the advice. They store their piles in storage bins and there is no way to stir them. The conveyor belts that normally run are shut down. We have to go up 10 stories and shoot down with our nozzles after we lay a thick layer of foam across the top to prevent a fireball. We've only stood on top of a pile once and that was on a coal train. We had a couple of guys on a broken down car that stood on the sidetrack for about 2 months. It's scary going out there. Thanks again for the wealth of knowledge.
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