Ten Minutes in the Street: On-scene, with Engine 13.....

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Permalink Reply by Cole Barton on November 15, 2009 at 8:41pm

first thing i noticed like everyone else is the big runoff on the charlie side. Appears to me that the smoke showing looks like a class A fire with no combustible liquids involved as of yet. Also it doesn't appear to be occupied. Here is where i get into a spot where i am torn because of lack of fire tactical knowledge. I would like to get a look inside with a search group and get an internal can report along with some vertical ventalation, but the safety of firefighters is also a big concern so we could go with some master streams and hit the building with big water also protecting the exposure on the delta side. if any of the more experienced fire fighters could lend me some knowledge i love to learn as much as i can....thanks be safe brothers

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 16, 2009 at 8:06pm

Putting a lot of water on this fire is going to create a lot of contaminated runoff regardless of whether or not the petrochemicals are involved in the fire or not at this point. There is obviously a lot of heat in order to generate the volume of smoke that is showing. Big Water equals Big Hazmat Runoff Problem for this fire.

Two rules here...

1) Hazmat doesn't have to burn to be a problem.
2) Adding water to a hazmat Hot Zone is rarely a good idea.

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Permalink Reply by Capt 723 on November 18, 2009 at 9:58am

http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=121012204929...

There used to be a link to a slide show of this incident but I couldn't find it again when I returned for a second look. If my memory serves me correct (yeah I know) it looked like the fire got hot enough to absorb the master streams put in place. The aerial views didn't appear to have any runoff. There was an area evacuated and traffic was disrupted on a nearby interstate.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Franks on November 18, 2009 at 10:30am

Wow there is a lot going on this morning in this town. I have just joined this group and this is the first time I have had an opportunity to view these scenarios. I must admit that I also have the advantage of reading the valuable input of those that have already responded to these incidents.

My initial assessment of this incident was also that this was some type of fueling facility given the large crater on C side where it appeared that underground tanks had been removed, and the filling structure in front of the tank truck near the back of the crater. It appears that the immediate exposure on the D side may have been part of the same business given the way the security fencing is aligned, and is also unoccupied at this time. The structure off the CD corner to the rear however does appear to be occupied in photo #3. Given what I can see of the fencing these individuals may only have one way out passing around the fire building and across B side to the street. Reading the smoke in photos 4 & 5 but not knowing the time lapse between them, I see high velocity turbulent smoke that is very dark indicating a heavy fire load burning at very high temperatures. As in every event life safety of firefighting personnel and potential victims is first priority. I would be concerned with water supply as it appears to be a mixed commercial/residential neighborhood across the street on A side, and there is no mention of a hydrant nearby and none are visible in the photos.

I would position myself at the BA corner near the bush surrounded parking lot (establishing an ICP) and have Engine 13’s crew proceed to evacuate the people from the occupied structure CD behind the crater and return to the ICP. I would position Truck 2 on A side in the street near the AD corner and use their master stream devices to cool the rising smoke, ash, and embers to keep it form spreading across the street to occupied structures. I would have Engine 13 establish a water supply and feed Truck 2. I would request an additional Truck, two Engines, an Air Truck, and at least one Medic unit from mutual aid knowing it would be a delayed response given the severity of the incident across town. Given the uncertainty of what fuels are burning everyone on the fireground would be required to use SCBA. I would position the Medic/Rehab approximately 100 yards up wind.

I agree with previous assessments that the best course of action here is to allow the unknown fuels to burn off while protecting exposures. I would employ the master stream device off Engine 13 on the AB corner. Positioning the second in Truck on the D side of the D exposure would allow use of the master stream to protect both the D side exposure and the building behind the crater. The next in Engine would be assigned to establish a secondary water supply and feed the second Truck. The third Engine would be held in reserve to address any flying embers or ash that may escape, as well as relief manpower. The EPA should be notified so they can monitor air quality, but I would not tie up the Hazmat Unit unless run off became a problem or overhaul reveals unstable chemicals remianed after the fire was out.

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