Preparing for the “BigOne”!

Tactical preparation for major incidentsinvolving fuels.

Presented by,

ARFF Professional Services LLC

Fuel Spills / Haz Mat Incidents

• Tank Farms / High Level Alarms / Leaks /Failures

– Containment – Dikes – Ignition Sources

• Tanker Truck Accidents / Rollovers

– Spill?

– Containment / Drains

– Ignition Sources

Tank Farms

Pre-Planning

• Facility Locations

• Contact Information

• Product Inventory

• Transfer Methods– Trucks

• Cycles / Routes

– Pipelines

• Type / Quantity of Tanks

• Dikes / Drawings

• Capacities

• Fixed Fire ProtectionSystems– Pumping Stations

– Fire Department Connections

– Foam Inventory

• Plant Protection Team / FireBrigade - Communications

• Exposures

• Response Routes

• Water Supply / Facility -Community

Types of Tanks

Floating Roof Tanks

External Floating Roof Tanks Internal Floating Roof Tanks,under geodesic dome

Types of Tanks

Cone Roof Tanks

Fire Protection Systems

• Pre-plan with FacilitiesPersonnel

• Understand existingsystems

– Automatic DelugeSystems – Loading Racks,Many have automaticAFFF deluge sprinklersystems activated byheat or flame detectors,with manual backup.

Automatic Deluge Systems

– Shut down manuallywhen control is achievedor when foam isexhausted.

– Check on on-site foamsupply

– Refill opportunities foron site foam supply

Subsurface Foam Injection

• A system of connections may be available topump foam directly into the main pipingmanifold at the Tank Farm. By opening valvesand directing the flow, it is possible to directthis flow to designated tank in the complexand accomplish subsurface injection.

– Preplanning with Facility Personnel should includereview or plans and procedures. Plans readilyavailable for Unified Command Post

Preparation for Subsurface Injection

• Before beginningsubsurface injection, itmay be necessary totransfer product out ofthe involved tank to makeroom for product in thelines that will be pushedahead of the foam.Company representativesMUST be contacted forinstructions to transferany product.

Considerations / Subsurface Injection

• Subsurface foam injection cannot be used onethanol or other polar solvents. The polarsolvents will absorb the water in the foam.

• The volume of liquid in the pipeline must bedisplaced by the foam water solution. Pipelinevolumes can vary from 8,000-25,000 gallonsdepending on their diameter and distancefrom the subsurface injection manifold.

Considerations / Subsurface Injection(continued)

• The inlet valve of the storage tank must beopen.

• Depending on the length of the line and thetank height, it may take 30-60 minutes of timefrom the time that foam water solution ispumped into the injection manifold until itreaches the burning surface of the tank.

Fixed Systems

• Some facilities will have hard piped systemthat can deliver foam to areas subject to fire.

• Fixed piping is provided on certain tanks toprovide direct delivery of AFFF, fromapparatus or foam supplies into the tank.These systems will deliver foam onto theproduct via topside application at the tank. ASiamese connection is usually provided toallow the foam lines to be connected.

TACTICAL PRIORITIES

Major incidents at theTank Farm complex willinvolve either a leak ora spill of a petroleumproduct. The situationmay or may not involvea fire.

Tactical Priorities• Ensure that company and contract employees are not within a

hazardous atmosphere or have the potential to be exposed.

• Cover the spill with a foam blanket to control fire and/orprevent ignition.

• Control potential sources of ignition.

• Have a HAZ MAT unit monitor the foam blanket to determineits effectiveness.

• Contain the spill or run-off.

• Identify and control the source of the spill or leak.

• Maintain foam blanket until product can be picked up.

• Keep all personnel and vehicles out of the spill area.

• Maintain an adequate volume of foam solution on scene forthe duration of the incident.

Re-Ignition Hazards

• A large spill can createan extremely largevapor problem and mayflash back from ignitionsources at significantdistances. Whilecovering the spill tosuppress vapors, thedirection and extent ofvapor travel must bedetermined.

Fire Attack

• Fires which are controllable with the foamsupply on hand should be attacked withoutdelay. If the fire is too large to be controlled bythe initial attack capability, Command shouldconsider a holding action to protect exposuresand prevent spread until additional foamsupplies can be assembled and prepared foruse.

Cautions

• Exposure Protection Streams should notcontribute to product volume in dike or ontanks

• Streams without foam will break up foam seal/ blanket

• Protect against product entering storm drains,protect against downstream hazards. Dealwith environmental issues

How Much is Needed?

• NFPA 11 – Standard for Low, Medium & HighExpansion Foams

– Hydrocarbon Fires / Gasoline, Jet Fuel, Diesel Fuel,kerosene

• 0.10 GPM Foam Solution per square foot of surfacearea, with a minimum run time of 15 minutes

UH OH – Nobody Told Me thereWas Math!!!!

– 0.10 GPM Foam Solution per square foot of surface area,with a minimum run time of 15 minutes

– AREA = Length X Width or π r 2 for Round Areas

• Example: 2000 Sq feet Gasoline

• .10 (GPM/Sq ft) X 2000 Sq ft = 200 GPM of Foam Solution

• .03 (%) X 200 (GPM) = 6 Gallons of Concentrate per Minute

• 6 (Gallons Concentrate) X 15 (Minutes of minimum run time)= 90 Gallons of 3% Concentrate to control, extinguish andinitially control a 2000 Sq ft. hydrocarbon fire

How Much is Needed?

• POLAR SOLVENTS - Flammable liquids that areWATER MISCIBLE or WILL MIX WITH WATER.

(eg. Ketones, Esters, Alcohol, MTBE, Amine)– 0.20 gpm* FOAM SOLUTION per square foot of fire. Once

again, NFPA recommends a minimum run time of 15minutes on shallow spill fires.

EXAMPLE: AN AREA OF 1000 SQUARE FEET OF A KNOWNPOLAR SOLVENT IS ON FIRE. YOU HAVE a 3% / 6% AR-AFFFAVAILABLE FOR SECURING THE FLAME.

Polar Solvent Math

• .20 gpm/sq.ft. X 1000 sq.ft. = 200 gpm FOAMSOLUTION REQUIRED.

• .06 x 200 gpm = 12 gallons of 6% FOAMCONCENTRATE REQUIRED per minute.

• 12 gal X 15 minutes = 180 gallons of 6% AFFFCONCENTRATE REQUIRED to control, extin­guish andinitially secure a 1000 sq’ polar solvent fire.

What About Hardware??

10,000 Sq’ Diesel Fuel (Hydrocarbon Fuel)

• .10 gpm/sq’ X10,000 sq’ = 1000 gpm of foam solution

• That means you need 1000 GPM of Hardware, (Eductors,Nozzles, or Foam Appliances)

Continuing the Math…

• .03 X 1000 of Solution = 30 GPM of 3% Concentrate Required

• 30 GPM X 15 Minutes = 450 Gallons of 3% Concentrate isrequired to control, extinguish and initially secure a 10,000 sq’hydrocarbon fire

How Foam WorksFoam Tetrahedron

FoamConcentrate

Water

MechanicalAgitation

Air

Vapors

SuppressesVapor

Excludes02

Cools

Considerations

• Overflow spill. Most tanks have high level alarmsystems to reduce the risk of spills.

• Ignited overflow spill will result in a major fire inthe dike area around the tank as well as a fire atthe surface level of the tank.

• Control the spill fire before attempting to controlthe tank surface fire, since a spill fire wouldcontinue to re-ignite vapors coming from thetank. The spill area must be secured with a foamblanket for the duration of the incident.

Methanol

• Sunoco – Fullerton PA

• Gulf – Fullerton PA

– Where else?

– 10 % of most automotive fuel already containsMethanol

– Methanol is blended at the loading rack, whichmeans there are Methanol Tanks

– Are you prepared for a Methanol Fire?

Bulk Transport Vehicle Incidents

Locations / Hazards / Exposures• Unlike Fuel Farms, accidents and incidents

involving tankers can occur anywhere.

– Highways

– Communities

– Exposures

• On Highways, it may be necessary to shutdown the entire highway, possibly even bothsides of a divided highway.

– At a minimum close 1 Additional Lane

Approach of First Responders

• Protection and Visibility of Apparatus andResponders in Traffic

– No open flame flares

– Use Apparatus to protect responders on ground

– Exit apparatus on opposite side from traffic

– Reflective PPE

• Approach from upwind and uphill if possible

Considerations on Scene

• Tire failure can cause sudden load shift ofproduct. “Slop Over” can suddenly andsignificantly increase area of burning liquid.

• A weight shift on an overturned tanker cancause the undercarriage fall and splashflammable liquid, or rip the tank apart causingrelease of product.

Considerations on Scene

• Any Firefighters Working Down Hill of Fire.Container Failure, Explosions or Shifts couldCause the Truck to Roll, or Cause a RapidRelease of Product.

• Use Roll On or Bank In Method. Do Not Plunge

• Introduction of Water will Disrupt FoamBlanket

• If Extinguishing is Delayed, Consider Coolingthe Pavement

Considerations on Scene

• If Extinguishing is Delayed Consider Coolingthe Tank Undercarriage and Exposures.

• If Extinguishing is Delayed Consider Coolingthe thermal column with 1 ¾ hoses and powercones.

• Evaluate the addition of any firefighting waterintroduced to released product and its affecton containment, storm drains, etc.

Exposures

• In addition to normal exposures, such asbuildings. Remember the monetary value ofoverpasses, bridges, and the importance ofthese conveyances to the community.

Water Supply

• Remember to calculate your water supply aswell as your foam supply. Highway locationsmay require long hose lays, relay pumping ortanker operations in order to maintain supplyfor the operation.

Product

• It is important to know what products are onboard the tanker. If there is a leak, it mayinvolve single or multiple compartments.

– Bill of Lading’

– Manifests

– Placards

– Drivers

– Hauling Truckmen

Tactical Operations

• Establish Command / Establish TacticalCommunications Channel / Assign Safety

– Size Up; If not burning, identify leaking product,stop the leak, contain the spill, prevent ignition,protect environment, maintain safe operationsduring recovery and clean up.

– If Burning, Cool exposures, contain spill, stop theleak, control and extinguish fire, protectenvironment, maintain safe operations duringrecovery and clean up.

Tactical Operations• Identify Product Burning and Determine

Proper Agent for Extinguishment

• Calculate Quantity of Agent Required (Hintsto Follow)

• Collect / Inventory, Proper Agent Type andQuantity Required for Fire Attack

Agent Calculation Hints

2 Axle Tanker < 50’ L X 10’ W X 14’ TallOn its side, it covers about 700 sq ‘.Use increments of that 700 sq’ shadowto estimate spill area. Add 300 ‘ ft for atwin screw tractor with sleeper, total1000 sq’

Back to the Math

• NFPA 11 – Standard for Low, Medium & HighExpansion Foams

– Hydrocarbon Fires / Gasoline, Jet Fuel, Diesel Fuel,kerosene

• 0.10 GPM Foam Solution per square foot of surfacearea, with a minimum run time of 15 minutes

• For this example, lets use round figures.Double the size of the entire rig on its side =2000 Sq’

How Much Do we Need to GetStarted?

– 0.10 GPM Foam Solution per square foot of surface area,with a minimum run time of 15 minutes (for a fire)

– AREA = Length X Width or π r 2 for Round Areas

• Example: 2000 Sq feet Diesel Fuel

• .10 (GPM/Sq ft) X 2000 Sq ft = 200 GPM of Foam Solution

• .03 (%) X 200 (GPM) = 6 Gallons of Concentrate per Minute

• 6 (Gallons Concentrate) X 15 (Minutes of minimum run time)= 90 Gallons of 3% Concentrate to control, extinguish andinitially control a 2000 Sq ft. hydrocarbon fire

No Fire Present

• Initial Priorities- Contain, Prevent Ignition

– Foam Application at 200 GPM will consume 6Gallons of Concentrate per minute

– How many minutes can you maintain thisapplication to prevent ignition?

– How many minutes away is the next piece ofapparatus with foam.

Table Top Exercise

Scenario

• A call is received at 2340 Hrs. Friday Nightreporting that a tanker truck has rolled overon Airport Road. The driver has escaped fromthe vehicle. There is reported to be an odor offuel in the area. There is no fire at this time.

• A second vehicle involved in the accident is apick up truck. The driver is trapped inside thevehicle.

Upon Arrival

• Tractor Trailer Tanker on its side. Odor ofdiesel fuel present.

• Pickup truck with heavy front end damagesitting on all 4 wheels. Single occupant,unconscious, broken windshield, air bagdeployed.

• Airport Road traffic is gridlocked. Multiple carsstopped in the area of the accident andparked on median.

Incident Command

• Who’s in Charge?

• Initial Actions

• Notifications / Requests

• Resources Needed

• Communications Plan

• Incident Action Plan

Hazard Type

Placard

Source of Leak

• The Tractors 100 Gallon Saddle Tank wasruptured when it rolled over. A weld failed inthe corner of the tank and about half of theproduct has leaked out. It is no longer leaking.

• The dome cover is leaking fuel down the sideof the truck onto the pavement. There is astream of fuel running along the curb. Thearea around the truck on one side is wet fromfuel with puddling in the low spots.

Priorities

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