Training Bulletin 145: Combustible metals

Question 1

Significant quantities of these combustible metals are present at businesses throughout the City of Los Angeles. (7)

Answer 1

magnesium, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, lithium, aluminum, and sodium

Question 2

Vehicle and aircraft manufacturers are replacing conventional materials with _____ and ______ to reduce weight and increase fuel economy.

Answer 2

titanium and magnesium

Question 3

When conventional firefighting tactics (i.e. water application) are utilized on combustible metal products what can potentially happen?

Answer 3

Explosion

Question 4

Burning metal material may be encountered in the form of recycled _____, ______, and other small pieces.

Answer 4

Turnings and chips

Question 5

If ___ is applied the results can be a spontaneous, bright explosion that hurls molten metal hundreds of feet in the air, burning anything in its path.

Answer 5

Water

Question 6

________, _______, _______, and proper tactical adjustments are critical first steps to ensuring a safe and successful outcome at these complicated incidents.

Answer 6

Recognition, communication , and teamwork

Question 7

Most combustible metal fires produce extreme temperatures ranging from

Answer 7

5000-9000 degrees F

Question 8

These temperatures are high enough to separate water into its basic elements:

Answer 8

Hydrogen, oxygen

Question 9

This Training Bulletin is intended to give Firefighters insight on product ________, review the ______ of combustible metals, and provide an operational guide on the appropriate fire control methods.

Answer 9

Identification

Hazards

Question 10

Fires involving combustible metals are designated as a class

Answer 10

Class “D” fire

Question 11

Traditionally, the fire service utilizes _____as its primary extinguishing agent for type “A” fires.

Answer 11

Water

Question 12

becomes a free burning fuel and oxygen acts as an oxidizer that accelerates the burning rate, fire spread, and temperature to the higher end of the range above.

Answer 12

Hydrogen

Question 13

_____ ____ becomes a free burning fuel and oxygen acts as an oxidizer that accelerates the burning rate, fire spread, and temperature to the higher end of the range above.

Answer 13

Surface area

Question 14

The smaller particles, when exposed to fire conditions, can result in an _____ as opposed to larger size pieces such as ingots, etc. that are very difficult to ignite and will self-extinguish when the heat source is removed.

Answer 14

Explosion

Question 15

Combustible metals can be divided into two categories:

Answer 15

ALKALI METALS

ALKALI EARTH METALS,

Question 16

Alkali metals are?

Answer 16

Lithium , sodium, and potassium

Question 17

Alkali metals (Lithium, Sodium, and Potassium) are water-reactive under non-fire conditions and should be placarded with the

Answer 17

“W” under NFPA 704

Question 18

Alkali Earth metals Are

Answer 18

Magnesium), Transitional metals (Titanium, Zirconium),

Question 19

_____ or ______conditions could indicate the presence of combustible metals.

Answer 19

Unusual fire or smoke conditions

Question 20

Flames burning with a ‘____ ____’ appearance, the presence of flowing or _____ metal, and____ colored smoke are conditions that exist during a combustible metal fire.

Answer 20

White hot

Molten

White

Question 21

Combustible metals present significant hazards to Fire Personnel for the following reasons:

Answer 21

High burning temperature

• Volatile reaction to water
• Debris from water reactions being thrown through the air

Question 22

Members of the LAFD working within ___feet of a burning metal product are considered to be working in an IDLH

Answer 22

30

Question 23

Extinguishment of combustible metal fires is accomplished through _______of the burning material. If the fire is allowed to burn, this process will occur naturally as an ____ ____ develops over and smothers the burning material beneath.

Answer 23

Smothering

Oxide crust

Question 24

Dry powder, under the brand name “____”, is the only approved product provided by the LAFD to extinguish combustible metal fires.

Answer 24

MET-L-X

Question 25

MET-L-X is a dry powder composed of a ___base with an added polymer for sealing and other additives to render it free-flowing and cause heat _____or _______.

Answer 25

Salt base A caking or crusting

Question 26

Supply and Maintenance maintains approximately ____pounds of MET-L-X and has the ability to deliver it to the scene of the fire.

Answer 26

500lbs

Question 27

MET-L-X is applied manually through use of a ____ or by disbursing the product directly from the _____ _____

Answer 27

Shovel Storage bucket

Question 28

Per the manufacture’s recommendations, a _____ inch layer of MET-L-X is required to effectively smother a fire. ____ pounds of product is required for every ___square foot of fire.

Answer 28

One inch 10 One

Question 29

The entire stock of MET-L-X maintained at Supply and Maintenance would only extinguish a

Answer 29

50 sqft fire

Question 30

Without an effective means of disbursing the product over a large area, the LAFD is only capable of using Met-L-X to control small fires in the

Answer 30

Incipient stage

Question 31

Businesses utilizing combustible metals may have an approved Class “_” extinguisher on site

Answer 31

Class D

Question 32

LAFD personnel may utilize these extinguishers so long as they are _____ ______ if working within 30 feet of the burning product.

Answer 32

Fully encapsulated

Question 33

If no extinguisher is available, ___ ____, _____ powder, dry sodium, ___ or Met-L-X powder may also be on site and can be used.

Answer 33

Dry sand Graphite powder G1-R

Question 34

______is not an effective extinguishing agent for combustible metal fires.

Answer 34

Purple k

Question 35

Per manufacturers’ instructions, Purple K is appropriate for

Answer 35

A B and C fires only

Question 36

Purple K is a ____ ______extinguishing agent as opposed to a dry powder extinguishing agent.

Answer 36

Dry extinguishing

Question 37

extinguishes combustible metal fires by smothering them

Answer 37

Dry powder

Question 38

works by interrupting the chemical fire process, which is counter productive in extinguishing a combustible metal fire

Answer 38

Dry chemical

Question 39

Magnesium engine blocks, for example, can be eventually extinguished utilizing

Answer 39

copious amounts of water.

Question 40

If a fire is burning beyond the incipient stage or is involving a large amount of product, copious amounts of water can be _______ ______and can cause increased fire intensity and explosions.

Answer 40

Counter productive

Question 41

Once it is determined that we are dealing with a combustible metal fire, the best course of actions is to

Answer 41

Separate, Isolate, and/or Extinguish the fire (if safe to do so with an appropriate extinguishing agent)

Question 42

It may be appropriate to attempt to Extinguish the product using ____ ____ or an extinguishing product found on site, such as Met-L-X or a class “D

Answer 42

Dry sand