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4-6.1
Causes and Prevention of Fires and Explosions - Cont'd.
13.
Vehicle engines must be shut down while taking on or discharging fuel.
14.
Promptly clean up or wash down all spills and fuel accumulations.
15.
Keep all equipment and work areas neat, clean, orderly, and in good mechanical condition. This is very
important.
16.
Keep fire suppression equipment in good condition and readily available.
17.
Move fire suppression equipment to be near areas of spills, liquid fuel accumulation, sampling operations, etc.
until the fire hazard is corrected.
18.
Never use gasoline for cleaning parts, clothing, rags, or other items.
19.
Do not wash hands in fuels.
20.
After using, place all oily waste and rags in self-closing metal containers. Empty containers at an assigned
disposal point frequently.
21.
Immediately remove any articles of clothing or shoes that have become soaked with fuels. This should be done
in an area free from ignition sources.
4.6.2 Summary of Fire Suppression Methods
If a fire starts in a TPT unit, there are a number of ways to extinguish it. It is essential that instructions are prepared and
all personnel be familiar with them. Fire suppression equipment furnished with the TPT is covered in detail in para. 2-
4.13 and Appendix A. The following general outline of fire suppression methods includes the use of dry chemical and
foam extinguishers which are furnished with the TPT as well as other methods so that the reader will have a broad
knowledge of fire suppression practice.
a.
Water and Water Fog. Water alone can extinguish a petroleum fire only when applied under favorable
circumstances. Solid water streams, water sprays, and water fog all have their proper use. The decision of when, where,
and how to apply water should be made by the person assigned as fire chief.
b.
Blankets. Blankets are mainly used to put out fires in a person's clothing. Wet blankets can sometimes be used
to help smother a fire at a vapor leak or at a vent.
c.
Foam. Foam used on petroleum fires is a continuous mass of very small bubbles filled with inert gas or air and
held together by surface tension. There are two types of foam: chemical (carbon dioxide) and mechanical (air or inert
gas foam).
1.
The foam must be applied to the fire so that it acts as a blanket on the surface of the product. The foam must be
spread over the burning surface faster than the fire can destroy it. The rate of application varies with the type of foam,
discharging outlet, and product. About 1 gallon of water-in-foam for each 10 square feet of liquid surface (or about a 1-
1/4 inch thickness of chemical or low expansion air foam per minute over the surface) is usually enough to fight a
gasoline fire.
2.
When a high volume flow of foam is available, it should be fully used by applying several streams of foam from
different points at the same time. However, each foam stream should be large enough to be effective by itself. It should
be so directed that it slides smoothly on to the surface of the burning liquid. Prompt, ample, gentle applications of foam
are most effective.
4-13
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