By Brian S. Gettemeier
There is a silent, post-COVID-19 problem looming for the fire service: hand sanitizer. In 2020, citizens and business owners stocked up on hand sanitizer to protect themselves. Hand sanitizer was and continues to be in our new normal world.
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The fire service problem with hand sanitizer is that it’s a flammable liquid. If it were gasoline firefighters would beconcerned, but we often don’t give much thought to hand sanitizer as a hazard. We carry it in our vehicles, purses, gym bags, and emergency medical services bags. In 2020, my organization issued each of us a bottle of hand sanitizer for our safety.
Fire Prevention
As businesses stockpiled hand sanitizer, they were adding an abundance of flammable liquids to their occupancy, one in which we wouldn’t consider as containing such a hazard, which might also be improperly stored. For example, if we use the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1926.152, flammable liquids standard as a guide, a quantity of more than 25 gallons must be stored in a flammable liquids cabinet.
A collateral effect of the 2020 lockdown that carried over into 2021 is that it curtailed much of our fire prevention inspection activities. Our members were not in businesses to identify increased fire loading.
The other risk with this increased fuel loading is that a rapidly spreading ignitable liquids fire can quickly overwhelm the sprinkler protection of these occupancies, for which the fire protection system was never designed. Fire prevention bureaus must educate engine companies to spot the storage of an abundance of ignitable liquids in an occupancy, including hand sanitizer. Fire companies must work with the prevention bureau on the proper method to mitigate this hazard.
Hazardous Waste
Businesses are finding themselves faced with cases, pallets, and even 55-gallon drums of hand sanitizer. Since these alcohol-based products are now reaching their expiration dates, companies are scrambling on what to do with their inventory, since it is hazardous waste (photo 1-2). We can’t merely dump it out, let it evaporate, or burn it. Federal disposal guidelines require that all alcohol-based hand sanitizers be treated as hazardous waste because of ignitability (40 CFR § 261.21). It can only be properly disposed of through a waste hauler qualified to manage hazardous waste.1 In fact, in August 2022, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality issued a $6.6 million penalty against a Chickasha company that allegedly stored large quantities of hand sanitizer on pallets, some of which were dumped onto the ground or caught fire.2
(1) A box of hand sanitizer containing four one-gallon plastic jugs of the material. (Photos by author.)
(2) A box of hand sanitizer with a Flammable Liquids label and a UN ID number.
Fires Involving Hand Sanitizers
The safety data sheet (SDS) for hand sanitizer refers to the product as a highly flammable liquid and vapor that may form explosive mixtures with air. It goes on to state that vapors can travel a significant distance and flash back. Its flash point is 72°F, with an autoignition temperature of 685°F. Vapors will easily ignite when exposed to an ignition source. With a specific gravity of 0.89, it should float, but with the solubility of alcohol, it will most likely mix with water. The product is transported as a flammable liquid.
In its pure state, hand sanitizer can burn completely clear and invisible to the naked eye. If the product begins to consume other flammable materials, the color will change to a more visible orange flame. Firefighters must use a thermal imaging camera (TIC) to identify where the burning product is (photos 3-4).
In October 2022, Fort Worth, Texas, firefighters operated at a warehouse fire fueled by hand sanitizer.3 Firefighters had to take a defensive posture. The fire burned for more than 16 hours and ultimately gutted the warehouse. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, but one firefighter had to be transported to the hospital for evaluation. As with any fire involving ignitable liquids or hazardous materials, firefighters must be aware of the runoff. In the Fort Worth fire, bottles of hand sanitizer were found in the Trinity River.4
Extinguishing Agents
Extinguishing agents for alcohol-based products include water fog, carbon dioxide, dry chemical extinguishers, and foam. Using a water fog line in conjunction with a dry chemical extinguisher can greatly enhance our firefighting abilities. The simultaneous discharge of dry chemical and water will quickly interrupt the chemical chain reaction, combining the dry chemical’s extinguishing properties with the water fog’s cooling ability. Firefighters must remember that the runoff from water fog lines will still contain alcohol.
Foam
Response to ignitable liquids incidents has become even more challenging as many states restrict the use of firefighting foams because of groundwater contamination issues associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Fire service agencies must determine if their foam contains PFAS. Local fire service agencies must work with their state and local government to determine the current restrictions. Firefighting foam use may be unrestricted, may not be used in training, or may only be used in an emergency but must have containment. If using this foam in an incident, firefighters must take care to contain the foam to minimize groundwater contamination. Furthermore, firefighters should limit their exposure to the foam and perform decontamination for their own safety.
Not All Foams Are Created Equal
Not all Class B foams are designed for use on alcohol-based products, also known as polar solvents. Polar solvents are ignitable liquids that mix with water. The firefighting foam must be engineered to fight these polar solvent fires. Firefighters must get to know their foam. First, does the foam we use contain PFAS? Second, is it rated only for hydrocarbons, or is it also rated for alcohols? Alcohol-rated foam will often be referred to as alcohol resistant (AR) or alcohol-type concentrate (ATC). Once you have identified the Class B foam type you carry, you must identify the application rate. Many times, Class B foam is designed to be applied at a lower percentage for hydrocarbons and at a higher percentage for alcohols. A common fire service foam combination is a 3 × 6—i.e., 3% for hydrocarbons and 6% for polar solvents. Warning! Just because it says 3 × 6 on the label does not mean it is rated for alcohol fires—you must check the label for the alcohol rating (photo 5). Some manufacturers sell a 1 × 3 (1% for hydrocarbons and 3% for polar solvents), a combination that allows the foam supply to last longer. Some types of foam require the same percentage for both hydrocarbons and polar solvents—a 3 × 3 product, for example. Firefighters use the same percentage of foam for both hydrocarbon and polar solvent fires. This foam formula takes the application percentage guesswork out of the equation.
(3) Hand sanitizer burning inside a pot; note there is only a very slight flame visible. In the sunlight, this flame would be invisible.
(4) A burning pot of hand sanitizer looking through the TIC. Notice if you look over the top of the TIC you see no open flames.
(5) A bucket of 3×6 foam with an alcohol rating.
Air Aspiration
When applying foam, using an air-aspirating nozzle is the best method for a producing a high-quality foam blanket that will make the foam more effective. Changing the nozzle pattern to a slight fog will further increase the blanket’s effectiveness. The drawback to using an air-aspirating nozzle is that it reduces your hose stream’s effective range.
In 2020, as we were combating COVID-19, we did anything possible to reduce our exposure risk. Although hand sanitizer has aided in preventing illness, it unfortunately has increased our firefighting risk in ordinary occupancies. Firefighters must educate themselves on the current issues involving firefighting foams. We must be alert to our surroundings and work with our prevention bureaus to mitigate this increased fire load of a hazardous waste.
Endnotes
1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (November 17, 2022) RCRA Management of Excess Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer. https://rcrapublic.epa.gov/files/14953.pdf.
2. Denwalt, D. (2022, August 27). The Oklahoman. Oklahoma company hit with record-setting hazardous waste penalty for hand sanitizer. Retrieved from Oklahoman: https://bit.ly/3GZIk30.
3. KDFW-TV. (October 7, 2022) Hand sanitizer fuels large fire at Fort Worth warehouse. https://bit.ly/40m7teP.
4. WFAA-TV. (October 14, 2022) Dozens of hand sanitizer bottles found floating in Trinity River after fire at Fort Worth warehouse, officials say. https://bit.ly/3opOHWW.
Brian S. Gettemeier has served the past 27 of his 30 years in the fire service as a career firefighter with the Cottleville Fire Protection District of St. Charles County, Missouri, where he is an engine company captain. A second-generation firefighter, he has a bachelor’s degree in fire service management from Southern Illinois University and has numerous state certifications. Gettemeier teaches all-hazards classes for municipal and industrial organizations in Missouri and Illinois and has presented at FDIC International.
