"Paddock" fire at NASCAR RACE

[DEK]

As some of you may be aware, I'm on a mild crusade to try to ensure that the risk of fire and people getting injured at CASC Road Races is minimized. Over the years I know of at least 2 fuel fires in the paddock. My exclamation at the "paddock" fire at Talledaga involved some not so polite words !!! Be careful when transferring gasoline, barrel to can, can to car etc !!!!
If anyone has a link to video of the fire, post it he. Apparently no one was injured.
DAVE KING

[timewarp9]

Dave, I know that we are supposed to ground the fuel cell when transferring, which I do with a ground strap to the chassis, but what are the do's and don'ts that I or others may not be aware of.

Thanks,

Jon

[Fast Eddie]

Not a great view but here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRZwRHakfMg

[13inches]

"that's not a burnout"

[terrydale]

Unless or until you have been involved first-hand with a fire, it is hard to appreciate just how much the danger and speed of it all can be so overwhelming in seconds.

I watched at a Trans Am race in Denver as one team member used a grinder on a piece of metal at the front of the truck while another crew member filled a quad-runner at the back of the truck from a typical red gas can with the usual spiilage. The sparks from the grinding operation could be seen showering down towards the filling operation for a few seconds until it hit the fumes of the spillage on the ground and ignited - big time. The ensuing fire was easily 20 feet in the air and was being fed by the gas can that had been dropped on the ground. There was the usual panic and scrabble by many to find an extinguisher until finally someone from a neighbouring team ran over with one and put it out.

I have since then put into effect at every event I am involved with a rule that states simply that when there is to be a transfer of fuel there must be a seperate person standing by holding an extinguisher whose sole responsibility is to watch and be prepared to react to a fire.

At every IMSA Prototype Lites weekend where I am the Race Director, although it isn't in the IMSA Code, I have a standing directive stating that each Lites Team must follow that procedure for every fuel transfer including the extra piece that it must also must not be done under the awning (accumulation of fumes, trapping of people, etc).

Those simple steps are at least a move in the right direction. Typically when cruising around a paddock and observing a fuel transfer taking place there is typically only the person doing the actual transfer in the area and secondly, when asked, they have no idea as to where the fire extinguisher is. "Its in the truck cab, I think!"

[TheJuggernaut]

Originally Posted by terrydale

I have since then put into effect at every event I am involved with a rule that states simply that when there is to be a transfer of fuel there must be a seperate person standing by holding an extinguisher whose sole responsibility is to watch and be prepared to react to a fire.

At every IMSA Prototype Lites weekend where I am the Race Director, although it isn't in the IMSA Code, I have a standing directive stating that each Lites Team must follow that procedure for every fuel transfer including the extra piece that it must also must not be done under the awning (accumulation of fumes, trapping of people, etc).

That put a smile on my face. Thanks for caring, wish there were more people like you!

[DEK]

Jon, the things Terrydale mentions are all easy to do and should always be part of a transfer procedure. Not using a funnel is also a "good" idea as a funnel can separate
the item the fuel is being poured from and the item the fuel is being poured to. This could result in a static discharge(spark) between the two. I'm going to try to find out if there are "official" industrial rules for the transfer of gasoline.

DAVE KING

[DJones]

Just before the end of the broadcast ,they showed almost the same footage.
They said the team was dumping the spare fuel into a tank on the hauler so they could safely put the empty pit cans into the trailer.
I thought Nascar would want the left over /un-used fuel returned back to Sunoco just to avoid and situation just like this.
No they got an bent car and a burned up hauler.
Bet the guys back at the shop won't get that into the spray booth.

[inoverdrive]

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

Not a great view but here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRZwRHakfMg

I love the first comment below the video !!
"More exciting than that pathetic excuse for a race"

[terrydale]

Originally Posted by DJones

Just before the end of the broadcast ,they showed almost the same footage.
They said the team was dumping the spare fuel into a tank on the hauler so they could safely put the empty pit cans into the trailer.
I thought Nascar would want the left over /un-used fuel returned back to Sunoco just to avoid and situation just like this.
No they got an bent car and a burned up hauler.
Bet the guys back at the shop won't get that into the spray booth.

Like any other Series, you buy the fuel, you own the fuel. The challenge has always been the transportation of that fuel after the event as there are special permits required - depending on the quantity and states/countries travelled through. That is why the teams either take the risk of transporting the fuel in the drums they came in and use it up during testing or they dump it into rental golf carts or cars. Again, common sense and a healthy fear of fire usually prevails and it is done safely. Here is a classic example of what happens when one or more parts of that are ignored.

There is always a high risk factor anytime there is a transfer of fuel. Mitigating that risk mandates having a good-sized fire extinguisher manned by a dedicated person who stands by with the pin out and ready to blow it at a fire. If caught early, a fire can usually be dealt with quickly. It doesn't take very long at all for it to escalate and become unmanageable with a small hand-held extinguisher.

It would be very simple to include that requirement into every Series or Sanctioning Body's rules. It sure would go a long way. Certainly understanding the how's and why's of how fires start is a good preventive step, however, due diligence mandates being prepared in case one actually does.

Think about your own house. Do you have a fire extinguisher in your house? Do you know where it is? Does everyone in your household also know? Is it charged and have a current inspection? Do you take it out of its mount and shake the bottle periodically to ensure that the powder hasn't packed solid making it useless? Oh, and how about the fire escape ladder on your third floor? Have you seen it recently? Or is it buried behind boxes and old clothes?

I'm just sayin'..............