Post by chief322 on Feb 18, 2008 6:17:45 GMT -5
During the middle of last week, a somewhat "routine" incident had mitigated into an extended operations incident at the Dauphin / Lebanon County line. Fire & Rescue units were dual dispatched for a PIA involving a LPG tanker with fire. Units arrived and found minor injuries and the tanker on its side with a low pressure leak that was burning. Although the leak was "under control" with the fire burning off the escaping fuel, personnel began suppression tactics of cooling the tank to ward off a possible BLEVE. This was the onset of monstrous incident. It was determined, through the use of LPG experts, as well as the tank manufacturers, that it would take app. 1-3 days for the burn-off to be complete. The incident occured in a rural area of a suburban population with no readily available municipal water supply available.
From information gathered, 3 unmanned monitors blanketed the tanker for 2.5 days. Tanker companies from 5 counties were utilized in shifts for the duration of this incident. To maintain the needed flow, without interruption, 4 fill sites were established and maintained. In addition to the "attack & supply" engines, 2 RIT teams were manned simultaneously for the duration of the incident. Command was transferred on a shift by shift basis. The weather conditions during this event went from wind / rain, to sleet, freezing temps.
Many support functions were ordered, including port-a john, heating structures for personnel, food services, fuel services, etc.
In the end, the incident was concluded without much fanfare, but still having taken up 2.5 days of scene management.
My question to each and everyone of you is simple. Are we prepared, either through preplan on the FD or EMA to conduct and maintain and incident of this proportion?
I know from experience a few years back with a 90 acre forest fire, that this type of exteneded operation is tough and does need a good plan in place to adequately achieve the goal.
Any thoughts?
Tim
From information gathered, 3 unmanned monitors blanketed the tanker for 2.5 days. Tanker companies from 5 counties were utilized in shifts for the duration of this incident. To maintain the needed flow, without interruption, 4 fill sites were established and maintained. In addition to the "attack & supply" engines, 2 RIT teams were manned simultaneously for the duration of the incident. Command was transferred on a shift by shift basis. The weather conditions during this event went from wind / rain, to sleet, freezing temps.
Many support functions were ordered, including port-a john, heating structures for personnel, food services, fuel services, etc.
In the end, the incident was concluded without much fanfare, but still having taken up 2.5 days of scene management.
My question to each and everyone of you is simple. Are we prepared, either through preplan on the FD or EMA to conduct and maintain and incident of this proportion?
I know from experience a few years back with a 90 acre forest fire, that this type of exteneded operation is tough and does need a good plan in place to adequately achieve the goal.
Any thoughts?
Tim