Alternative Fueled

Vehicle Fires

Who Do You Take Care Of First?

Hose

PPE

Radio

Haligan Tool

Gasoline

GAS

Count how many times does someone in a White Shirt catch the ball.

Vehicle

Vehicle + CNG =

Vehicle + CNG = NGV (Natural Gas Vehicle)

The differences are: Power Loss

LPG 10 %

CNG 20 %

KM / L.
Tank Pressure

10 KM.
10 bar

5 KM.
200 bar

Additional Weight
Conversion Costs

60 kilo
2250

80 kilo
4500.-

Fuel Costs / Liter

0.34

0.05

LPG = Liquefied Petroleum Gas

LPG = Liquefied Petroleum Gas LNG = Liquefied Natural Gas

LPG = Liquefied Petroleum Gas LNG = Liquefied Natural Gas

CNG = Compressed Natural Gas

Flash Point

Boiling Point

Vapor Pressure
BTU Rate

Explosive Levels

All You Really Need To Know Is:

Both burn HOT, FAST, and EASILY!

Auto Fire with CNG Fuel Tank Explosion

Dispatch was at 0230 for car fire (E10) E10 arrived and requested assistance for a multiple vehicle fire with possible structural exposures (freeway columns and overpasses) 12 vehicles damaged or destroyed

Auto Fire with CNG Fuel Tank Explosion

CNG vehicle exploded just as Firefighters approached with a handline and missed them by approximately 15-23 meters.

E10 parked outside the gate here

Debris from the explosion was thrown up to 30 meters in all directions, including on the over-passes above the incident.

Roof debris ++ + Bumper frame Trunk lid Backhoe

Roof debris

Fuel tank
(original location)

Honda CNG Vehicle

Roof is blown completely off vehicle and doors blown open

Metal mounting straps for CNG tank

Trunk lid

Tank landed here, moved down hill to here for extinguishment

Rear bumper frame 27m+ away

Bumper shrapnel Note burn marks on ground.

This is your only warning of a CNG fueled vehicle. Typically located on the trunk lid or bumper

Composite tank is carbon-fiber / fiberglass wrapped for strength similar to our SCBA tanks.

Honda Civic Tank Design

Note: The PRD (pressure relief device) activates similar to a fusible link (it fails versus resealing like a springassisted pressure reducing valve PRV). The gas is vented out the vent tube until the tank is empty. Discharge time depends on fuel level.

Lessons Learned /Best Practices

Approach from 45 angle to vehicle ends Be aware of CNG vehicles
Cabs, city vehicles, shuttles

Look for CNG placards Watch for other hazards, i.e. bumper struts; hood and tailgate struts; airbags; burning fuel runoff; hazardous vehicle contents; exploding tires; other traffic Consider cooling streams from a distance