TB 86 - Fumigations

Question 1

There are approximately how many fumigations in LA County each year?

Answer 1

32,000

Question 2

In the past what was the most widely used fumigant?

Answer 2

Hydrogen cyanide

Question 3

Hydrogen cyanide was phased out in what year?

Answer 3

1997

Question 4

What replaced hydrogen cyanide as a fumigant?

Answer 4

Methyl bromide

Question 5

Methyl bromide is what and is never used without an odorant?

Answer 5

Odorless

Question 6

The odorant agent that methyl bromide is mixed with is what?

Answer 6

Chloropicrin (tear gas)

Question 7

When was methyl bromide phased out as a fumigant?

Answer 7

2005

Question 8

What was methyl bromide replaced with as a fumigant which is currently used in over 95% through the US?

Answer 8

Sulfuryl fluoride

Question 9

Sulfuryl fluoride is only about how much as effective as methyl bromide?

Answer 9

1/3 to 1/2

Question 10

What is the only chemical approved currently in LA County for structural fumigations and can only be used by licensed commercial users?

Answer 10

Sulfuryl fluoride

Question 11

Liquid sulfuryl fluoride will be approximately what degree (boiling point) as it changes from liquid to gas?

Answer 11

-67 degrees

Question 12

What are the 4 different brand names for sulfuryl fluoride?

Answer 12

Villanelle
Masterfume
Profume
Zythor

Question 13

Because sulfuryl fluoride is an odorless agent, it will be used with what warning agent?

Answer 13

Chloropicrin

Question 14

When used with sulfuryl fluoride, small chloropicrin soaked what are placed in the structure on protective plates similar to pie tins prior to the introduction of sulfuryl fluoride?

Answer 14

Rags

Question 15

Chloropicrin becomes unstable at temperatures above what degree and can decompose violently above this temperature?

Answer 15

140 degrees

Question 16

Chloropicrin vapors are how many times heavier than gas and are non-skin absorptive as a gas?

Answer 16

5.7 times

Question 17

Is chloropicrin toxic?

Answer 17

Yes

Question 18

What is another commonly used fumigant where other pesticide applications and/or standard tent/tarp fumigation techniques are impractical?

Answer 18

Aluminum phosphide

Question 19

Aluminum phosphide cannot be used inside structures nor closer than how many feet from a structure where humans and/or domestic animals reside?

Answer 19

100 feet

Question 20

Aluminum phosphide is a solid and comes in what designed to release a specific amount of toxic phosgene gas?

Answer 20

Tablets or pellets

Question 21

The gas from aluminum phosphide is colorless and has what type of smell?

Answer 21

Garlic-like

Question 22

The vapor density is what for aluminum phosphide, making it slightly heavier than air?

Answer 22

1.18

Question 23

Can aluminum phosphide be absorbed through the skin?

Answer 23

No

Question 24

Can sulfuryl fluoride be absorbed through the skin?

Answer 24

No

Question 25

Can chloropicrin be absorbed to through the skin?

Answer 25

No

Question 26

Do not use what on spilled tablets of aluminum phosphide?

Answer 26

Water

Question 27

Incidents involving aluminum phosphide should have what team responding?

Answer 27

Hazmat

Question 28

What industry is methyl bromide most likely to be encountered in to fumigate the soil prior to planting?

Answer 28

Strawberry industry

Question 29

Methyl bromide has a boiling point of what degree?

Answer 29

38.5 degree

Question 30

Methyl bromide is heavier than air and has a vapor density of what?

Answer 30

3.27

Question 31

Is methyl bromide skin absorptive and flammable?

Answer 31

Yes

Question 32

What is the flammable range for methyl bromide?

Answer 32

10% to 16%

Question 33

For methyl bromide, it’s flammable rating on the NFPA 704 placard is what for flammability?

Answer 33

1

Question 34

Pesticides can enter the body how?

Answer 34

Inhalation Ingestion Absorption

Question 35

Effective November 1, 2010, state certified fumigations were required to comply with who?

Answer 35

California aeration plan (CAP)

Question 36

The CAP plan requires that all tarps be what with strategic fans inside the structure that draw fresh air in the tarps and aerates the gases through ducting pointing up and away from structure?

Answer 36

Ventilation

Question 37

Generally multiple tarps will be required when doing what to a structure for fumigation?

Answer 37

“Tenting”

Question 38

Sandbags in the form of what are used to keep the tarp system sealed to the ground along the perimeter of the building to prevent the fumigant gas from escaping?

Answer 38

“Snakes”

Question 39

The typical fumigation under CAP is generally a how many day operation?

Answer 39

3 day

Question 40

What does Day 1 of fumigation consist of?

Answer 40

Install tarps Install of inlets and ducts Release fumigants

Question 41

Multiple warning signs are installed on day 1 of fumigation which include what information?

Answer 41

Type of fumigant When it was applied Name of fumigant company 24 hour emergency contact number

Question 42

Day 2 of fumigation consists of how many hours minimum of aeration with tarpaulins?

Answer 42

12 hours

Question 43

Day 3 of fumigation consists of what?

Answer 43

Remove tarps Test and certify for re-entry Potential restoration of natural gas

Question 44

For certain properties where occupation (vacant) is not a priority, it will consist of a 4th day which consists of what?

Answer 44

Natural gas restoration

Question 45

Levels are less than 1 part per million within how many hours of clearing and have no detectable levels of sulfuryl fluoride within 24 hours after start of aeration?

Answer 45

6 hours

Question 46

Members working within how many feet of a fumigated structure require full turnouts with SCBA on air?

Answer 46

30 feet

Question 47

All personnel performing rescue or rapid extraction operations shall wear what gloves?

Answer 47

EMS gloves under structure gloves or green hazmat gloves over structure gloves

Question 48

Any incident involving skin absorptive fumigants, liquid pesticides, or pesticides in industrial concentrations or any leak or spill involving storage, transport or dissemination vessel requires what assignment?

Answer 48

Full hazmat assignment

Question 49

Required resources for a fumigation hazmat assignment include what resources?

Answer 49

``` Hazmat TF and squad ALS rescue LF or truck for blowers JHAT LAPD hazmat if suspected crime ```

Question 50

Who else must be notified at fumigation incidents?

Answer 50

LA County department of food and agriculture

Question 51

All structures undergoing fumigation shall be what prior to entry of fire personnel performing rapid extraction or rescue functions?

Answer 51

Ventilated/aerated

Question 52

For fumigation incidents, evacuate all structures within how many feet or downwind of the fumigation prior to tent removal?

Answer 52

30 feet

Question 53

When removing the tarps at a fumigation incident, remove sandbags on 2 opposing sides of the structure ideally what sides to use prevailing wind to your advantage?

Answer 53

Windward and leeward

Question 54

When setting up blowers at a fumigation incident, set up blowers on which side of the structure?

Answer 54

Windward

Question 55

For fumigation incident, what size hose line should be deployed for emergency decon?

Answer 55

1”

Question 56

Hydrogen cyanide gas was phased out in 1997 due to restrictive regulations stemming from what?

Answer 56

Chemical weapons convention

Question 57

Methyl bromide was phased out in 2005 due to the depletion of what under the Montreal protocol on substances and the clean air act?

Answer 57

Ozone layer