Vehicle Fire Hazards
Heat and Toxic Fumes
If you are still fighting vehicle fires with booster lines and without SCBA, consider the following information about the heat and toxic gases produced by... View MoreVehicle Fire Hazards
Heat and Toxic Fumes
If you are still fighting vehicle fires with booster lines and without SCBA, consider the following information about the heat and toxic gases produced by vehicle fires. Modern vehicles are constructed largely of polyurethane foams (PUFs) and plastics, including most of the interior finish, the headliners, the body parts, the doors, and the windows; the seats, the arm and head rests, and instrument panels are all constructed largely of PUFs. The fenders, spoilers, bumpers, and other exterior parts may now be constructed of reaction-injected polyurethane.
PUF fires produce very high heat release rates, toxic fumes, and temperatures nearing 1,500�F, as a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) PUF test has shown. Once the PUF ignites, the fire rapidly spreads throughout the vehicle and to nearby exposures. PUF fires �generate highly toxic fumes of oxides of nitrogen and carbon including extremely toxic hydrocarbon compounds, such as hydrogen cyanide.� Burning PUF also generates numerous other poisonous, toxic, and carcinogenic compounds. Wear your SCBA!
Steven Schnaudt
