Training Bulletin #4-Gasoline Tank Truck Incidents

Question 1

What are the primary considerations on these incidents?

Answer 1

Preservation of Life, property, environment (LPE) IN THAT ORDER

Question 2

Where does LAFD regulate tank trucks?

Answer 2

Fire Code- Division 38

Question 3

What are the three basic vehicle-tank configurations and gallons carried by each?

Answer 3

• Single tank truck with two or three axles: 3,000-5,000 gallons
• Tank tractor with a semi-trailerr connected by fifth wheel: 9,000 gallons (40 ft tank)
• Tank truck pulling two-axle trailer: 4,200 gallons (truck tank), 4,800 gallons (trailer tank), total 9,000 gallons.

Question 4

What are tanks made of and how thick are they?

Answer 4

Aluminum: 3/16” thickest part on bottom. (Thinner at top)
* Due to this design loads to be carried in upright position. In case of a rollover, tanks must FIRST be off-loaded prior to moving back to upright position due to think walls and weight.

Question 5

Where are emergency shutdown switches located?

Answer 5

• left front corner

- main panel on right side

Question 6

When is an offensive attack employed?

Answer 6

When there is an immediate life hazard and/or there is enough personnel, apparatus, equipment, and foam on scene to distinguish the fire.

Question 7

When would use of plain water only (no foam) be acceptable on these incidents?

Answer 7

When there is an immediate life hazard/rescue when foam is not available or when foam use would cause an unacceptable delay in rescue.

Question 8

When should extinguishing operation take place?

Answer 8

When apparatus, personnel, equipment, and foam are set and in place.

Question 9

How much class B foam do foam tenders carry?

Answer 9

1,000 gallons

Question 10

When should a second foam tender be dispatched?

Answer 10

Once one foam tender is added, a second should be added as well.

Question 11

What not to do when applying foam?

Answer 11

Do not drive streams beneath surface of liquid

Question 12

When is defensive attack employed?

Answer 12

When there is no life, exposure or environmental hazards and /or when insufficient staffing and equipment to perform offensive attack. (*Idea is to let fire burn itself out.)

Question 13

Aluminum tanks begin to melt at what temperature?

Answer 13

1,200 degrees F

Question 14

At what rate does gasoline burn?

Answer 14

1 ft/hour vertically regardless of surface area (Ex. 4 ft high, burn 4 hours)

Question 15

How much can vacuum trucks hold?

Answer 15

Up to 90% their rated capacity (dependent on weight of product and required vapor space)

Question 16

When would a 2,500 gallon vacuum truck be needed?

Answer 16

Up to 2,000 gallon spill

Question 17

When would a 5,000 gallon vacuum truck be needed?

Answer 17

2,000-4,500 gallon spill

Question 18

What are the three categories of vacuum truck cleanliness?

Answer 18

Dirty, Clean, Super Clean

Question 19

What constitutes a dirty truck?

Answer 19

Tank empty of product, but has not been cleaned.

Question 20

What constitutes a clean truck?

Answer 20

Tank empty and has been washed with water only, with possible traces of product left from previous load.
* What LAFD requests due to safety and cost compared to the other two.

Question 21

What constitutes a super clean truck?

Answer 21

Tank empty of product and chemically cleaned, free of all previous product.

Question 22

Tank Trucks transport approximately _% of all fuels used by vehicles.

Answer 22

90%

Question 23

Note**

Answer 23

Transportation of fuel products are regulated nationally by Department of Transportation (DOT) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Bureau of Carrier Safety and Office of Hazardous Materials.

Question 24

California imposes its own regulations on tank trucks and requires periodic inspections by the _.

Answer 24

California Highway Patrol (CHP)

Question 25

The LAFD regulates flammable and combustible liquid tank trucks in Div. #_ of the Fire Code

Answer 25

38

Question 26

When a tank truck and/or trailer accident occurs, a complex incident is created with potential for what?

Answer 26

• Fire
• Rescue
• Evacuation
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• Environmental Concerns

Question 27

Note**

Answer 27

Tanks can have 2-4 compartments with single bulk heads to separate compartments.

Question 28

When are double bulkheads required in tanks?

Answer 28

When there are different flammable products with different FLASH POINTS in the same tank.

Question 29

The void space between bulk heads (leak indicator) can hold up to _ gallons IF plugged.

Answer 29

200

* If a plug found, NEVER remove it.

Question 30

What is the purpose of Baffles in a tank?

Answer 30

Baffles assist with tank strength, but due very little to reduce surge.

Question 31

Note**

Answer 31

All external piping on tanks have built in SHEAR POINTS.

Question 32

If there is a leak, eliminate potential ignition sources a minimum of _ away from leak.

Answer 32

100’

Question 33

What does AR-AFFF stand for?

Answer 33

Alcohol Resistant Aqueous Film Forming Foam

Question 34

When using AR-AFFF plan on _ minute supply for suppression operations and an extra _ min for foam blanket maintenance.

Answer 34

• 15

- 15

Question 35

If there were a 100 square feet of burning liquid, _gallons of AR-AFFF concentrate at _% would be required with approximately _ gallons of water.

Answer 35

• 31
• 3
• 1,000

Question 36

If there was a 1000 square feet of burning liquid, _ gallons of AR-AFFF concentrate at _ % would be required with approximately _ gallons of water.

Answer 36

• 312
• 3
• 10,000

Question 37

The gross weight of a tanker full would be approximately _ pounds.

Answer 37

80,000

Question 38

Note**

Answer 38

The disconnection of the tow bar SHALL only be performed by trained heavy wrecker personnel AND only after product has been off-loaded.

Question 39

How many 20 ton towing wreckers does it take for an all up-righting operation?

Answer 39

2

Question 40

Note**

Answer 40

All LAFD Hazmat companies have received equipment and training on what is the softest and quickest method of off-loading an overturned tanker.

Question 41

When MFC orders vacuum trucks directly from a Hazmat hauling company, the LAFD becomes “responsible party” and financially responsible for the waste hauling and disposal, FIRST with the approval of who?

Answer 41

Deputy Department Commander
* This occurs after first attempting to get ahold of responsible party to take care of clean up. If not LAFD takes action.

Question 42

Who has authority of Hazmat incidents on STATE roadways (highways/freeways)?

Answer 42

CHP

*If there are life and fire hazards, CHP usually gives authority over to LAFD.

Question 43

Note**

Answer 43

CalTrans is responsible for clean-up of State highways/freeways and has the authority to order and pay for clean up operations when:

Question 44

When LAFD takes responsibility of clean up, the required EPA Identification number for the Hazardous waste Manifest must be obtained from who?

Answer 44

On-Call Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety.

Question 45

If vapors cannot be brought back to INTACT tank, the EXHAUST HOSE METHOD must be used and directed a minimum of what away from ignition source?

Answer 45

50 ‘ downwind and downhill