TB 4 - Gasoline Tank Truck-Trailer Incidents

Question 1

Primary consideration of emergency responders shall be the preservation of life, _______, and the environment, in that order.

Answer 1

Property

Question 2

What are the three basic types of vehicle-tank configurations?

Answer 2

1. Single tank truck with two axles (3,000gal) or three axles (5,000gal).
2. Tank tractor with semi-trailer connected by fifth-wheel (9,000gal)
3. Tank tractor pulling a two-axle trailer (9,000gal)

Question 3

Tanker incident precautions:

Firefighters should isolate the incident by setting perimeters using what piece of equipment?

Answer 3

Combustible gas indicator

Question 4

The following general safety precautions shall be taken by all personnel at all tanker incidents:

Answer 4

-Full PPE and SCBA

-Avoid contact with product or vapors

-avoid contact with tank truck

-avoid breaking foam blanket

-isolate area and set perimeters

-approach uphill/upwind

Question 5

Actions for Gasoline Tanker Incident – No Leak:

Answer 5

• Treat all incidents as if there is a leak until it is confirmed there is not a leak.

• Full PPE with SCBA

• Monitor incident area with combustible gas indicator.

• Perform preliminary container integrity examination
(Construction and design features allow for early tank failure at relatively low temperatures with pressure relief devices designed to maintain 3 to 5 psi. BLEVE should NOT be a consideration.)

Question 6

Actions for Gasoline Tanker Incident – Leak, No Fire:

Answer 6

• Eliminate potential ignition sources a MINIMUM of 100 feet from the spill.

• Turn off vehicle ignition, if possible

• Use combustible gas indicator to verify atmosphere around BATTERY TERMINAL is below 10% LEL BEFORE disconnecting or disabling.

• Set incident perimeters using 5 gas monitors.

• Contain runoff

• Affected area surrounding the tank shall be covered with foam.

Question 7

For tanker with only a tire fire use a minimum ______ hose line with a minimum of _____ gpm. Consider vehicle FUEL TANKS as a SECONDARY HAZARD, secure sufficient water supply for potential of incident.

Answer 7

1 1/2” hoseline with 125 gpm

Question 8

Fire Attack actions for Gasoline Tanker Incident – Fires Involving Spilled Liquid or Tanker:

Answer 8

• Spot apparatus uphill and preferably upwind of incident.

• Secure water supply sufficient for multiple master stream operations.

• DO NOT USE PLAIN WATER UNLESS IT IS TO PERFORM A RESCUE

• Make fire attack using FOAM LINES.

• Use dikes to keep spilled, flowing or burning product from storm drains.

Question 9

Actions if a tankers product has entered subterranean levels (vaults, storm drains, sewer system, etc.):

Answer 9

• Contact appropriate agencies for mitigation and recovery efforts

• Monitor possible areas that may become explosive or pool flammable vapors

• Use LAFD Hazmat for enhanced surveying

Question 10

When is the offensive attack used on tanker incidents?

Answer 10

-there is an immediate life hazard

-there is enough personnel, apparatus, equipment and foam on scene to extinguish the fire

Question 11

When can you use plain water instead of foam during a tanker incident?

Answer 11

-For immediate life hazard/rescue operation. (Use plain water IF foam setup will cause delay)

….Never direct water stream into flames or cargo tank (burning product will overflow)

Question 12

Offensive Attack Actions for Tanker Fires:

Answer 12

-Never direct cooling stream into flames or cargo tank, product will overflow and spread

-Use alcohol resistant aqueous film forming foam (AR AFFF)

• Plan for 15 min supply of foam concentrate for suppression ops (additional 15 mins for foam blanket maintenance)
• Aggressive deluge to extinguish fire

-Apply foam in a soft arc (do not direct steams below surface of liquid)

-Reapply foam as necessary

Question 13

Foam tenders are capable of introducing compressed air into the foam lines, increasing reach and minimizing water use and run off.

LAFD foam tenders carry _______ gallons of class B foam.

Answer 13

1000 gallons

Question 14

When is the defensive attack used on tanker incidents?

Answer 14

• No life, exposure, or environmental hazards

-insufficient staffing and equipment to perform offensive attack

Question 15

Defensive Attack Actions for Tanker Fires:

Answer 15

When a defensive attack is employed the idea is to let the fire BURN ITSELF OUT.

• No fire extinguishment activities
• Protect personnel, apparatus, and exposures from radiant heat
• Control runoff

-Use dikes to protect storm drains

Question 16

Aluminum tanks will melt at about _______°F and the exposed fuel will burn at the liquid level.

Answer 16

1,200

Question 17

OVERTURNED gasoline truck/trailer incidents are even more challenging for the following reasons:

Answer 17

• Additional stability issues with the overturned vehicle.

• Increased likelihood of a spill, leak and/or fire.

• Automatic necessity for off-loading operation.

Question 18

Overturned Tanker:

Disconnection of the tow bar shall only be performed by ________ personnel and only after product off-loading.

Answer 18

-trained heavy wrecker

(Tremendous energy may be stored in an overturned trailer tow bar.)

Question 19

Even after confirming a private clean-up company’s qualifications (appropriate training, documentation, personnel and equipment), ________ shall handle all product off-loading (stinger operations).

Answer 19

LAFD Hazardous Materials companies

Question 20

The request of ordering private clean-up resources through MFC requires the approval of?

Answer 20

The Deputy Department Commander

Question 21

Tanker incidents on state highways/freeways:

1. The _______ has AUTHORITY over Hazardous Materials incidents on State roadways.
2. _________ is responsible for CLEAN-UP of State highways/freeways

Answer 21

1. California Highway Patrol
   (Historically, the CHP abdicates it’s authority to the Los Angeles Fire Department in dynamic incidents with life and fire hazards.)
2. CalTrans

Question 22

It is imperative that vacuum trucks are ordered early in an incident, because it is not uncommon to have a one- or two-hour wait between when the trucks are requested and when they arrive.

Vacuum trucks are available in multiple sizes, but _____ and ______ gallon capacities are available from most hazardous materials waste haulers.

Answer 22

2,500 and 5,000 gal

Question 23

Use the following guidelines when ordering vacuum trucks for spills and/or off-loading:

Answer 23

• 1 – 2,500 gallon truck for incidents up to 2,000 gallons

• 1 – 5,000 gallon truck for incidents between 2,000 and 4,500 gallons

• 2 – 5,000 gallon trucks for incidents involving a 4,800 gallon trailer

• 3 – 5,000 gallon trucks for incidents involving tank combinations up to 9,000 gallons

Question 24

Vacuum Trucks are classified by what three tank cleanliness standards?

Answer 24

1. Dirty – Tank is empty of product, but it has not been cleaned.
2. Clean – Tank is empty of product and has been washed with water, but there is a possible trace of water and product from the previous load.
3. Super Clean – Tank has been chemically cleaned and is free of product.

Question 25

The IC should order the “______” type vacuum trucks when requesting the appropriate vacuum truck CLEANLINESS CLASSIFICATION.

Answer 25

Request “CLEAN” vacuum trucks to PREVENT any possibility of a reaction between a “dirty” tank and the off loaded or cleaned up material.

“Super-clean” trucks are UNNECESSARILY expensive.

Question 26

Non-Pressure Liquid Tank Design and Construction:

Answer 26

-Most tanks are made of aluminum

-Tank wall is thickest at bottom (3/16”) and gets thinner towards the top. (Tank is not equally strong in all positions)

-Tanks are designed to carry load in upright position

-Tanks must be off-loaded prior to being uprighted

-tanks usually have 2 to 4 compartments, with single bulkheads separating compartments

-DOUBLE BULKHEADS are required when carrying FLAMMABLE products with different flashpoints

-Void space between double bulkheads contain a leak indicator hole and could contain up to 200 GALLONS of PRODUCT in the void space (NEVER REMOVE ANY PLUG)

-BAFFLES are installed primarily for TANK STRENGTH (do very little to reduce surge of product)

-Even when full, each compartment will have a vapor space

-The individual compartments are generally either full or empty. They are not designed to deliver partial loads.

-All EXTERNAL PIPING is constructed with built-in SHEAR POINTS.

Question 27

The best way to determine the amount of product left in trucks is to gather information from?

Answer 27

the driver or consult the shipper’s manifest

Question 28

If product is suspected in a tanks void space, a _______ will drill if necessary and pump out the compartment.

Answer 28

Hazardous Materials Task Force (HMTF)

Question 29

the LAFD regulates flammable and combustible liquid tank trucks in Division _____ of the Fire Code.

Answer 29

38

Question 30

Gasoline Tanker

The rule of thumb is gasoline will burn at the rate of about _____ foot per hour, vertically, regardless of the surface area.

Answer 30

1 foot