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The International Association of Fire
Chief's (IAFC) would like to alert its
members to the requirements for handling
E85 fuel, an alternative fuel composed
of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent
gasoline. Recently, E85 has begun to
appear in the Midwest, primarily the
states of Illinois and Minnesota.
According to the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT), fires involving
E85 should be treated differently than
traditional gasoline fires, because
E85 is a polar/water-miscible flammable
liquid. E85 is highly flammable, and
will be easily ignited by heat, sparks
or flames. The DOT recommends following
Guide 127 in the 2004 Emergency Response
Guidebook.
According to the ERG2004, public safety
should:
Call emergency response telephone number
on shipping paper first.
As an immediate precautionary measure,
isolate spill or leak area for at least
50 meters (150 feet) in all directions.
Keep unauthorized personnel away.
Stay upwind.
Keep out of low areas.
Ventilate closed spaces before entering.
Wear positive pressure self-contained
breathing apparatus (SCBA).
Structural firefighters' protective
clothing will only provide limited protection.
For fires, public safety should:
Be cautioned that these products have
a very low flash point; use of water
spray when fighting fire may be inefficient.
For small fires, use dry chemical, CO2,
water spray or alcohol-resistant foam.
For large fires:
Use water spray, fog or alcohol-resistant
foam.
Use water spray or fog; do not use straight
streams.
Move containers from fire area if you
can do it without risk.
For fire involving tanks or car/trailer
loads:
Fight fire from maximum distance or
use unmanned hose holders or monitor
nozzles.
Cool containers with flooding quantities
of water until well after fire is out.
Withdraw immediately in case of rising
sound from venting safety devices or
discoloration of tank.
ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed
in fire.
For massive fire, use unmanned hose
holders or monitor nozzles; if this
is impossible, withdraw from area and
let fire burn.
For spills or leaks, public safety should:
ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no
smoking, flares, sparks or flames in
immediate area).All equipment used when
handling the product must be grounded.
Do not touch or walk through spilled
material.
Stop leak if you can do it without risk.
Prevent entry into waterways, sewers,
basements, or confined areas.
A vapor suppressing foam may be used
to reduce vapors.
Absorb or cover with dry earth, sand
or other non-combustible material and
transfer to containers.
Use clean non-sparking tools to collect
absorbed material.
For large spills, public safety should:
Dike far ahead of liquid spill for
later disposal.
Water spray may reduce vapor; but may
not prevent ignition in closed spaces.
For evacuation, public safety should:
For a large spill, consider downwind
evacuation for at least 300 meters (1,000
feet).
If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved
in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2
mile) in all directions; also consider
the evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile)
in all directions.
For first aid, public safety should:
Move victim to fresh air.
Give artificial respiration if victim
not breathing.
Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult.
Remove and isolate contaminated clothing
and shoes.
In case of contact with substance, immediately
flush skin or eyes with running water
for at least 20 minutes; wash skin with
soap and water.
In case of burns, immediately cool affected
skin for as long as possible with cold
water. Do not remove clothing if adhering
to skin.
Keep victim warm and quiet.
Ensure that medical personnel are aware
of the material(s) involved and take
precautions to protect themselves.
The full Guide 127 can be found at:
http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/erg/g127.pdf.
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