Firefighters in Hanover not equipped to put out E-10 blazes

Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:

The Hanover Fire Department has raised serious concern about its inability to put out an E-10 gasolene fire, should one occur in the parish.

District officer with the Hanover Fire Department, Conroy Ghans, made the disclosure during a Gleaner Editors' Forum held yesterday at the Global Villa in Lucea, Hanover.

Ghans said the situation was critical, as the department does not have the alcohol-resistant foam that is required to extinguish an E-10 fire, and the nearest place to acquire the foam is miles away in the neighbouring parish of St James.

"The regular foam that we have now will actually mix with the E-10. So what you will have is E-10 plus foam solution at the bottom, and fire ablaze on top of that," he explained.

Ghans explained that the petroleum component of E-10 (which is 10 per cent ethanol plus 90 per cent gasolene) is lighter than water and would, therefore, float, while the foam, which is heavier, will sink to the bottom making it of no effect.

"What the foam is supposed to be doing is providing a blanket, cutting off the oxygen supply and extinguishing the fire. But the opposite occurs when we use the regular foam. The foam sinks while the E-10 rises and is ablaze on top.

Special foam needed

Deputy superintendent of the fire brigade in charge of Hanover, Paul Hibberts, confirmed Ghans' statement, adding that it has been proven in specialised training of fire personnel conducted by Petrojam (MoBay) that the alcohol-resistant foam is required to put out an E-10 fire.

"It has been proven that the alcohol-resistant foam works with extinguishing an E-10 fire. The E-10 has alcohol and reacts with water, and if we use the ordinary foam we will not get proper coverage, the effect that we need," Hibberts said. "We work with the Petrojam plant in Montego Bay so we are awaiting word as to when the foam is available."

In the meantime, president of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association, Trevor Heaven, expressed surprise at the revelation, citing he had no knowledge that a special foam was required to put out a fire involving E-10 fluid.

"I know that the fire brigade insists that we have required equipment to fight a fire," Heaven said. "So if the fire brigade is not equipped to deal with a major fire, should one occur, then we are in a serious problem."

Chairman of the Jamaica Automobile Dealers Association, Kent LaCroix, also denied having any knowledge that a special foam was needed to put out an E-10 fire.

"If that is the case, why is it that this is just coming to the fore?" LaCroix asked. "For the fire brigade not to have it is very serious. But speaking as a layman, I find it difficult to think that you need a special chemical to deal with such a fire. I believe that ethanol, which is alcohol, should burn off quickly, leaving the rest to burn. So over to you, Mr Commissioner."

barrington.flemming@gleanerjm.com