THE TOXIC NATURE OF VEHICLE FIRES
As a not so young probationary firefighter, like all new firefighters, I was heavily influenced by the senior firefighter figures I was stationed with. This influence was a smattering of good, bad and indifferent.
Friday and Saturday nights were car fire specials. Our fire response area hosted, or was adjacent to, 7 of the top 10 suburbs for abandoned stolen vehicles. Abandoned vehicles of a stolen nature would normally end in a blazing inferno accompanied by enough accelerant to keep a scout jamboree warm on a cold winter’s night.
Sometimes I would wear a BA while fighting a car fire. Sometimes I wouldn’t. From memory, I think it was dependent on the amount of flame showing and the size of fire with little or no regard for the smoke plume. After all, it’s just a car fire, right? Wrong!
It is only with the hindsight of experience and time served that I learned the error of my ways. If only I had my time again!
When going through my archives to find an image for this article I found a car fire video which is more recent than I care to mention. At that time, there was still the process of one firefighter getting the first aid line out (a pre-connected, pre-charged hose reel) and putting water on the car until the second firefighter had Breathing Apparatus on. Once donned, the first firefighter would hand the hose off to the second firefighter. I watched in "hindsight-horror" as the firefighter in question had to turn his head away from the fire as his hose stream made contact with magnesium (see image below) causing a significant reaction. Now the firefighter had his Breathing Apparatus on his back, but it was not donned at this point in time. Enquiries confirm that this practice is still very much in place in certain areas.
Friday and Saturday nights were car fire specials. Our fire response area hosted, or was adjacent to, 7 of the top 10 suburbs for abandoned stolen vehicles. Abandoned vehicles of a stolen nature would normally end in a blazing inferno accompanied by enough accelerant to keep a scout jamboree warm on a cold winter’s night.
Sometimes I would wear a BA while fighting a car fire. Sometimes I wouldn’t. From memory, I think it was dependent on the amount of flame showing and the size of fire with little or no regard for the smoke plume. After all, it’s just a car fire, right? Wrong!
It is only with the hindsight of experience and time served that I learned the error of my ways. If only I had my time again!
When going through my archives to find an image for this article I found a car fire video which is more recent than I care to mention. At that time, there was still the process of one firefighter getting the first aid line out (a pre-connected, pre-charged hose reel) and putting water on the car until the second firefighter had Breathing Apparatus on. Once donned, the first firefighter would hand the hose off to the second firefighter. I watched in "hindsight-horror" as the firefighter in question had to turn his head away from the fire as his hose stream made contact with magnesium (see image below) causing a significant reaction. Now the firefighter had his Breathing Apparatus on his back, but it was not donned at this point in time. Enquiries confirm that this practice is still very much in place in certain areas.
So why am I now so horrified?
The research into toxicity of vehicle fires is extensive. Fire Engineering published an article in 2012 stating that “Although vehicle fires can be suppressed quickly, they can release hundreds of toxic chemicals into the air, which could cause short-and even long-term health effects over a firefighter's career. Even after a fire is extinguished, the off-gassing of potentially harmful chemicals and particles may continue because of thermal decomposition. Some of the chemicals released from vehicle fires are likely to be different from those released during structural fires because vehicles contain materials such as rubber (belts, tires), petrochemicals (oil, gasoline), and acids (batteries)”
To further reinforce the risk, a 2010 Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report found that there is the potential for acute overexposure to formaldehyde, CO, and isocyanates during vehicle fire suppression.A potential for fine particle exposure can occur at any point during fire suppression operations. The report discussed a number of toxic gases and most were reported to be below the STEL. This isn’t meant to be a reassuring result. For the non-hazmat folk, STEL is an acronym for “short-term exposure limit” implying that the toxic gas recordings are at an acceptable average exposure over a 15-minute period. The issue with toxic gas exposure is that while the fire may be extinguished, the toxic gases will continue to be released with the presence of heat. The gear you wore during the extinguishing phase will now likely to have those same toxic gases venting around you. This is likely to exceed the STEL time range of 15 minutes without appropriate on-site decon and bagging and tagging protocols.
The below table shows the 15 most abundant volatile organic compounds found in an engine fire study performed by the CDC. It is divided into the 3 different stages of a car fire. The "Start Up" or actual burning. The "Knockdown" which is the process of extinguishment. Followed by "Overhaul" which is the process of ensuring all hotspots are cooled to prevent re-ignition. This may include the use of tools to open bonnets/hoods and rear compartments etc. It is important to notice the significant increase in the concentrations of Dichlorodifluromethane, Benzene, Propene, 1,3-Butadiene, Acetone and Toluene despite the fire being extinguished. Another alarming example of how the overhaul of any fire is when firefighters are most at risk to toxic gases.
The research into toxicity of vehicle fires is extensive. Fire Engineering published an article in 2012 stating that “Although vehicle fires can be suppressed quickly, they can release hundreds of toxic chemicals into the air, which could cause short-and even long-term health effects over a firefighter's career. Even after a fire is extinguished, the off-gassing of potentially harmful chemicals and particles may continue because of thermal decomposition. Some of the chemicals released from vehicle fires are likely to be different from those released during structural fires because vehicles contain materials such as rubber (belts, tires), petrochemicals (oil, gasoline), and acids (batteries)”
To further reinforce the risk, a 2010 Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report found that there is the potential for acute overexposure to formaldehyde, CO, and isocyanates during vehicle fire suppression.A potential for fine particle exposure can occur at any point during fire suppression operations. The report discussed a number of toxic gases and most were reported to be below the STEL. This isn’t meant to be a reassuring result. For the non-hazmat folk, STEL is an acronym for “short-term exposure limit” implying that the toxic gas recordings are at an acceptable average exposure over a 15-minute period. The issue with toxic gas exposure is that while the fire may be extinguished, the toxic gases will continue to be released with the presence of heat. The gear you wore during the extinguishing phase will now likely to have those same toxic gases venting around you. This is likely to exceed the STEL time range of 15 minutes without appropriate on-site decon and bagging and tagging protocols.
The below table shows the 15 most abundant volatile organic compounds found in an engine fire study performed by the CDC. It is divided into the 3 different stages of a car fire. The "Start Up" or actual burning. The "Knockdown" which is the process of extinguishment. Followed by "Overhaul" which is the process of ensuring all hotspots are cooled to prevent re-ignition. This may include the use of tools to open bonnets/hoods and rear compartments etc. It is important to notice the significant increase in the concentrations of Dichlorodifluromethane, Benzene, Propene, 1,3-Butadiene, Acetone and Toluene despite the fire being extinguished. Another alarming example of how the overhaul of any fire is when firefighters are most at risk to toxic gases.
So the exposure is real, yet a paper studying firefighter behaviours in Montreal found that firefighters in Montreal wore SCBA approximately 50 percent of the time at structural fires but only six percent of the time at all fires, which included vehicle fires (Austin et al, 2001). While I would assume that the wearing of Breathing Apparatus has increased significantly since that time, are we still at risk of being complacent? Do we need to do more to inform and educate our people about their exposures? Do firefighters consider the anticipated change over of oxygen cylinders and decontamination of gear to be arduous and cumbersome and something that needn’t be done at 3 o’clock in the morning? Carcinogen exposure doesn’t care what time of the day it is, it doesn’t care how long your shift is. Get into a standard procedure and follow it, regardless of energy levels, time of day or other pressing issues.
(Of all the hazards involved in a car fire, the one we have greatest control over is our complacency. Wearing a Breathing Apparatus and being on air is non-negotiable!)
The simple fact is that the more we expose ourselves to these toxic gases, the higher the likelihood we have of getting cancer. Some discussion I have had recently with Station Commanders and veteran firefighters allude to an attitude of “It’s too late for me”. While this is a sad insight into the philosophies of some and personally I find disappointing, I would like to think it is the minority. The problem we face is that every fire station is one entity when it comes to minimising carcinogen exposure. We are only as strong as our weakest link and it only takes one person to lapse a little or not be at their best to bring the fireground back to the station and expose others. Regardless of your perceptions of your own circumstance or your own exposures over your career, you owe it to your fire station colleagues to do the right thing. Minimise your own exposure and you minimise those who you work in close quarters with!
But this is also about more than just firefighter safety. As motor vehicle theft and subsequent arson is a crime, police will routinely be called to investigate. Once the fire is out and cause and determination is carried out and the process of finding vehicle identification numbers begins, often with Police in close quarters to help identify the owner of the vehicle so that they can be notified. But as we are finding more and more about toxic gases and their reluctance to simply exist during fires and stick within the smoke plume, the exposure increases as the fire is extinguished. At the time I always considered myself to be the safest to take my mask off, in hindsight now was actually the worst time.
We have an obligation to fellow emergency responders to ensure we are not putting them at risk of exposure. If we let them near the car, then we are allowing them to be exposed. The general aim of any fire service is to enhance community safety and quality of life by minimising the impact of hazards and emergency incidents on the people, environment and economy. This includes our own firefighters and extends to other emergency services who may unwittingly become exposed. The fire service needs to show leadership on this front.
P2 masks are dust masks. They’re not toxic gas masks. They will not provide protection during salvage and overhaul nor a car fire or any fire for that matter. At least not from the things that matter the most.
But this is also about more than just firefighter safety. As motor vehicle theft and subsequent arson is a crime, police will routinely be called to investigate. Once the fire is out and cause and determination is carried out and the process of finding vehicle identification numbers begins, often with Police in close quarters to help identify the owner of the vehicle so that they can be notified. But as we are finding more and more about toxic gases and their reluctance to simply exist during fires and stick within the smoke plume, the exposure increases as the fire is extinguished. At the time I always considered myself to be the safest to take my mask off, in hindsight now was actually the worst time.
We have an obligation to fellow emergency responders to ensure we are not putting them at risk of exposure. If we let them near the car, then we are allowing them to be exposed. The general aim of any fire service is to enhance community safety and quality of life by minimising the impact of hazards and emergency incidents on the people, environment and economy. This includes our own firefighters and extends to other emergency services who may unwittingly become exposed. The fire service needs to show leadership on this front.
P2 masks are dust masks. They’re not toxic gas masks. They will not provide protection during salvage and overhaul nor a car fire or any fire for that matter. At least not from the things that matter the most.
The point of this article is not necessarily to point out the error of our ways or to unnecessarily criticise, but to provide a moment of reflection and self-assessment. It’s never too late to change our ways for the better or set the example for others. We are ultimately responsible for our own health and therefore our own actions. It is up to firefighters to
The CDC report advocates the following measures:
What Incident Commanders Can DoContinue to enforce the use of SCBA's during vehicle fire suppression. Include this practice in written policy.Attack fires from upwind positions; this will further reduce firefighters’ exposures.Park the motor pump apparatus upwind of the fire. Doing so will lower exposures to the motor pump operator, who usually does not wear an SCBA.
What Fire Fighters Can DoPut on your SCBA before attacking a vehicle fire. Keep the SCBA on until overhaul is complete.Stay upwind of diesel exhaust sources such as exhaust pipes. Diesel exhaust contains harmful substances.Talk to the IC about any health and safety concerns. Bad habits can be changed any day. Work practices can be improved every day. Change them now before it’s too late!
The CDC report advocates the following measures:
What Incident Commanders Can DoContinue to enforce the use of SCBA's during vehicle fire suppression. Include this practice in written policy.Attack fires from upwind positions; this will further reduce firefighters’ exposures.Park the motor pump apparatus upwind of the fire. Doing so will lower exposures to the motor pump operator, who usually does not wear an SCBA.
What Fire Fighters Can DoPut on your SCBA before attacking a vehicle fire. Keep the SCBA on until overhaul is complete.Stay upwind of diesel exhaust sources such as exhaust pipes. Diesel exhaust contains harmful substances.Talk to the IC about any health and safety concerns. Bad habits can be changed any day. Work practices can be improved every day. Change them now before it’s too late!
Article written by Brett Carle with thank to Robert Avsec and the authors listed in the references below.
References:
Austin CC, Dussault G, Ecobichon DJ. (2001). Municipal firefighter exposure groups, time spent at fires and use of self-contained-breathing-apparatus. Am J Ind Med; 40:683-692 Fent K, Evans D, Couch J, Niemeier M. (2012). Evaluating Vehicle Fire Training Inhalation Hazards. Fire Engineering Magazine Fent K, Evans D, Couch J. (2010). Evaluation of Chemical and Particle Exposures During Vehicle Fire Suppression Training. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Austin CC, Dussault G, Ecobichon DJ. (2001). Municipal firefighter exposure groups, time spent at fires and use of self-contained-breathing-apparatus. Am J Ind Med; 40:683-692 Fent K, Evans D, Couch J, Niemeier M. (2012). Evaluating Vehicle Fire Training Inhalation Hazards. Fire Engineering Magazine Fent K, Evans D, Couch J. (2010). Evaluation of Chemical and Particle Exposures During Vehicle Fire Suppression Training. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention