“ROUTINE” CALL RESULTS IN EXPOSURE TO DEADLY GAS
BY JOHN GUGLIELMO, LIEUTENANT, ELK GROVE VILLAGE (IL) FIRE DEPARTMENT
Last October, the Elk Grove Village (IL) Fire Department responded to a report of an electric oven fire in a single-family dwelling. While en route, the companies received information that the fire in the oven appeared to be out and no smoke or flame could be seen. The first engine and ambulance crew arrived on the scene and were met by the homeowner, who stated that the heating element in the oven was “glowing red” and remained that way even with the oven turned off.
On entering the home, firefighters wore SCBA but did not don their face pieces since no smoke was visible in the house or oven. Since the heating element was red hot and melting, the power to the oven was shut off, which should have eliminated the problem but did not. At this point, the engine crew opened the oven door to take a look inside. They were immediately hit with a pungent, irritating odor that burned their eyes and throats. They immediately shut the oven door and ventilated the area.
After further discussion with the homeowner, it was determined that she had used a halon extinguisher in the oven prior to the fire department`s arrival but had failed to mention it previously. Further investigation revealed that it was a chlorinated halon extinguisher. Chlorinated halon can decompose into deadly phosgene gas. This decomposition occurs readily when the halon is exposed to red-hot metal, in this case the oven`s heating element. Phosgene gas is extremely toxic and can be rapidly fatal at 50 ppm.
What appeared to be a routine call involving a malfunctioning heating element caused six personnel to be exposed to deadly gas. Fortunately, the amount of phosgene gas was not enough to cause any acute problems, but documentation was completed for exposure for possible long-term problems.
One lesson learned is that you should never consider a call routine until you know all the facts. Another is that personnel must try to obtain information about extinguishers used on a fire prior to fire department arrival due to the potential problem with components of halon extinguishers breaking down into toxic fumes. n
