The Corner Service Station: A Neighborhood Hazard
FEATURES
SPECIAL RISK FIRES
Photo by Jim Boone
Despite its fire protection systems and specially trained fire brigade, everyone recognizes the chemical manufacturing plant at the edge of town as a severe target hazard in the community.
Yet, there may be other, just as potentially threatening operations in your area that, because of their familiarity, are easily overlooked in pre-planning. Consider this incident which occurred last year in Hornell City, NY. The fire department responded to a report of an explosion and fire at the Harwood Service Station, a typical corner gasoline service station.
While en route to the incident, the engine captain spotted a large black column of smoke coming from the service station and immediately requested additional manpower.
The fire started as a result of an improperly placed, gas-fired, hot water tank. One car was on the hydraulic lift while its gasoline line was being repaired. A second bay contained an open pit. When the hot water tank, located in the repair shop area, kicked on, the gasoline vapors were ignited. The force of the explosion blew the owner and an employee through the office door, which saved them from more serious injuries.
The fire had extended beyond the front of the repair shop, with smoke and flame pushing out the bay doors. The first-arriving unit was positioned up the street away from the involved area.
Equipped with full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack with 1 1/2-inch handlines through the adjacent office area. This strategy kept firefighters from facing the fire head on through the front doors of the garage, and resulted in a rapid knockdown. Damage was held to a minimum due to the fact that wood members of the ceiling were protected by plasterboard.
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But what if there had been a delayed alarm? What if the fire had extended to nearby exposures? What if the underground gasoline storage tank had become involved? There’s a lot of what ifs, aren’t there?
When we stop and consider a service station’s fire load and all the possible sources of ignition, it’s amazing that there aren’t more fires of this type.
Take a good look around the next time you’re in a service station. Is there an open tray of gasoline lying around to clean automotive parts? Are there automobiles with ruptured gasoline tanks or leaking fuel lines? In some instances, the vehicles inside the service bay may be powered by propane or natural gas.
Drums of solvent and waste oil are commonly found throughout the service area that could present an explosive greeting to the unsuspecting firefighter. And while on the subject of explosions, be aware of the possibility of the presence of oxygen and acetylene tanks that are used for cutting and welding.
Look at the shelves. Chances are they’ll be stocked with smaller cans of solvent, paint, thinners, carburetor cleaners, power brake and steering fluids, and oil and gasoline additives, just to name a few. Racks of tires, generally reaching from floor to ceiling can cause a severe smoke condition.
Service stations are notorious for poor housekeeping, so be aware that when responding to a service station fire there may be other, less obvious hazards. Your footing will undoubtedly be poor on a floor that has been covered for years with grease and oil. Most service stations have automotive batteries in stock, and some may have been in the process of being charged when the fire broke out, so use discretion with hoselines. There are bound to be open drums of filthy, flammable rags and garbage throughout the service station, and corners are usually piled high with boxes, vehicle parts, and used tires.
Now that we’ve done a general sizeup of a service station’s potential fire load and related hazards, let’s look at some of the possible ignition sources.
An unprotected drop light can ignite flammable vapors instantly if broken. Welding and cutting equipment, even when properly operated, can sometimes let a spark slip. How many times have you seen a mechanic puffing on a cigarette while working on a carburetor or checking a battery? How many patrons strike a match while staring over a mechanic’s shoulder or while walking through the service station?
At this point, we are probably all agreed that pre-plans should include the local service station. And when pre-planning, be sure to include the layout of and equipment positioning in the service station.
An incident similar to the Harwood Service Station fire occurred in a large car dealership. An employee was cleaning the floor with lacquer thinner when the natural gas-fired hot water tank turned on. A blitz attack by employees using multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguishers kept the fire under control until the arrival of the fire department.
The presence of energized electrical equipment, such as arc welders and battery chargers, is also a possibility. Fixed wiring in older stations may have been installed in a haphazard fashion, so watch your head on drooping electrical lines.
Some garages still have deep, open pits, and it is entirely possible for a civilian or a firefighter to become trapped in one during an emergency. Be sure to do a thorough search of these areas. Also, if a car is on a hydraulic lift when fire breaks out, remember that a child may have been allowed to remain in the car while it was being raised. The time of day and the day of the week are other factors to consider when accounting for life.
The construction of service stations vary, but they are usually one story, have masonry walls with wooden ceiling members, and flat roofs. The roofs’ supporting members may be poorly protected or, in some cases, completely exposed to fire in the service area. Positioning personnel on the roof for venting is a serious decision, and one that should only be made by the incident commander after a careful sizeup of the situation.
Unlike the chemical manufacturing plant, local service stations are often sandwiched in between buildings, so your first priority could be exposure protection.
Considering all the chemicals that could be involved in a service station fire, full protective gear and SCBA are musts, even during overhaul. Depending on apparatus placement, wind direction, etc., the pump operator, too, may need to don SCBA.
Although it is tempting to attack the fire through the garage doors, it is safer and more effective to enter through the office area. There are a number of reasons for this:
• First, there may be a car burning on a lift, and its shock absorbing bumpers, which contain hydraulic fluid, could present volatile projectiles.
• Second, if you’re not familiar with the layout of the service station, there could be an open pit into which any unsuspecting firefighter could fall.
• Third, if a car’s gasoline line or tank was in the process of being repaired when the fire broke out, the burning or exploding gasoline vapors could claim firefighters or apparatus that may have been positioned in front of the bay doors.
• Finally, should fire forces enter the office area, they could force smoke and heat back through the large garage door opening.
Even though service stations themselves are small, bear in mind the size of the fire load. Don’t hesitate to pull enough lines of sufficient size to handle the job. In some cases, an initial attack with a deck gun may be the only means of mitigating such an incident.
Although the neighborhood gasoline station is gradually being replaced by the new breed of selfservice mini-marts, small service stations are still around. It is therefore essential that the firefighter be aware of the hazards involved when battling the service station fire.
