Posted on Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 12:57 p.m.
Controlled petroleum burn in Ypsilanti gives firefighters experience with 50-foot flames
By Ben Freed
Firefighters from 10 departments in three counties in Southeast Michigan gathered Tuesday in the parking lot at Ypsilanti's Lincoln High School for a training session sponsored by the Michigan Petroleum Association.
According to Dave Music, assistant chief of the Augusta Township Fire Department, the firefighters gained experience controlling fires with flames that shot up to 50 feet in the air.
"The flames were going so high, we were stopping traffic," Music said.
Freelance photographer Jeff Smith captured these images for AnnArbor.com.
Ben Freed is a summer intern at AnnArbor.com. You can reach him by email at benfreed@annarbor.com or by phone at (734)-623-4674. Follow him on Twitter @BFreedInA2.
Comments
Mr. Ed
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 1:18 a.m.
This is a tough group. The pictures were nice. I support Public Safety 100%.
Spyker
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 9:59 p.m.
As a member of the Lincoln School Comunity I am more than a little disturbed by this. I realize the importance of proper training for our fire fighters, but this training is typically performed within or adjacent to abandoned structures awaiting demolition. NOT a public school building, albeit idled for the summer, on a very breezy day! Who will be providing restitution to the School District for replacement of their parking lot(s), and the cost of environmental clean-up for the property?
Jeff S
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 11:18 p.m.
The training was held far from the building in the middle of the parking lot, with the wind blowing the gasses/flames away from the building. There was no damage done to the parking lot because the flames were from gas burning in the air... and the surface was wet. There is nothing to replace and nothing to clean up. It would be very dangerous to hold this training inside or near a building as you suggested which is why it was done in the middle of a parking lot. The point was to turn off the shut-off valve of a leaking propane pipe, not extinguishing a fire.
GREGRNNMI
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.
Great question! We don't want to promote the wrong impression. We operate in the under "the most conservative approach" and safety is paramount. The Firefighters in the photograph are not in an Immediate Danger to Life and Health area (IDLH) as they are in a controlled environment. They are however prepared to render assistance, if needed, to other personnel in "that" area. Had this been a real propane emergency with a "live" tank, all personnel would be in full PPE in a much larger defined IDLH. They are providing safety suppression from an assured clear distance. The compression of the image is due to the long lens the photographer is using. It's also called a facepiece, not a mask.
gostate
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 12:50 a.m.
CDC disagrees with you :) <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0524.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0524.html</a> Link was appropriate given the context of training around active combustion without using full PPE. I wasn't at the drill to witness the lack of PPE usage, but the first picture shows the evidence. That's all I'll say on this as we are going to just keep disagreeing. Good night and good luck :)
GREGRNNMI
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 4:07 a.m.
Gostate, you're wrong in this instance. Propane is a clean burning fuel, non-toxic, and the only known physical risk is contact with it's liquid form @ -44 deg. F (or it's burning vapor form). There were no other carcinogenic substances burning at this training. You posted a link, rather innappropriately I might add having not been at this drill, to firefighterclosecalls that is grossly out of context for the training that was being done. Unequivocally, the firefighters in those scenarios are in a hazardous situation (working car fires have soooo many deadly gasses released).
gostate
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 9:46 p.m.
Edit: *argument not arguement (long day in the sun), fixed broken galls link <a href="http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&cat=&style=BG027" rel='nofollow'>http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&cat=&style=BG027</a>
gostate
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 9:41 p.m.
Not trolling for an arguement, but I'd like to make an additional point. With the nationwide effort of firefighters to enact presumptive cancer legislation, it's important to show the public that you are avoiding carcinogens even when you are just training. It seems kind of hypocritical to lobby for that kind of legislation when we don't always use the provided equipment to protect ourselves.
gostate
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 9:36 p.m.
You say facepiece, I say mask. Either is acceptable (<a href="http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=FE674)," rel='nofollow'>http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=FE674),</a> you could probably even call it a facemask if you want to compromise :) . Though the compression of the photo may be a part of the distortion in the first picture, that hoselines effective range is approximately what? 50 feet I'm guessing, depending on how many lines were open, GPM of your pump apparatus, wind conditions, proximity of the moon to the earth, etc... Either way, if you're close enough to spray it, you're close enough to inhale it. Practice like you play, and keep those lungs clean. <a href="http://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/news/fullstory/newsid/138628" rel='nofollow'>http://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/news/fullstory/newsid/138628</a>
daytona084
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.
Regarding the headline "Controlled petroleum burn in Ypsilanti gives firefighters experience with 50-foot flames"... Lincoln High School is NOT in Ypsilanti. Not even Ypsilanti Twp. Not even Ypsilanti Schools (it is part of Lincoln Consolidated School District). Lincoln HS is in Augusta Township. Lincoln High School is served by they Ypsilanti post office... that is it's only connection to Ypsilanti.
daytona084
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 3:16 a.m.
Anyone from the area knows that Lincoln HS is not in Ypsilanti. Having an Ypsilanti mailing address does not mean the school is "in Ypsilanti".
Jeff S
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 8:05 p.m.
The address listed on the website of the school is 8970 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti Michigan 48197. That zip code is Ypsilanti, no it is not in the city limits but it is correct.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
daytona084, im glad you cleared that up for all of us. i thought it was a movie shoot.
gostate
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
Just curious about the first picture: Why go to the trouble of wearing a SCBA if you are not going to wear the mask and use it?
GREGRNNMI
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 8:46 p.m.
Posted a comment below, thanks for the question it was an excellent observation.