Vehicle Fire Hazards
Alternative Fuels
Modern vehicles run on a variety of fuels including gasoline, ethanol, diesel, compressed natural gas, and electricity stored in battery packs. Each of these... View MoreVehicle Fire Hazards
Alternative Fuels
Modern vehicles run on a variety of fuels including gasoline, ethanol, diesel, compressed natural gas, and electricity stored in battery packs. Each of these poses its own potential challenges to firefighters operating at vehicle fires. Modern �gasoline� vehicles are actually running on a mixture called E10, which is typically 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol. Some vehicles run on �flex fuel� (formerly �E85�), which is a blend of between 51% and 83% ethanol and gasoline.15 If you are fighting a vehicle fire and the vehicle�s ethanol-blended fuel becomes involved, you will need to use an alcohol-resistant (AR) foam solution to effectively suppress the vapors and extinguish the fire.
Standard Class B foam will not be effective on a fire involving an ethanol mixture. You must use alcohol-resistant agents capable of suppressing vapors and extinguishing an ethanol-blended fuel fire. Additionally, flames from burning ethanol are nearly invisible to the naked eye, especially during daylight hours.16
Steven Schnaudt
