Do reporters have fact checkers?

[Al Czervik]

Wow.

"The problem is that water doesn't put out ethanol fires, and the foam that has been used since the 1960s to smother ordinary gasoline blazes doesn't work well against the grain-alcohol fuel."

from http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080226/D8V262J80.html

I can understand not wanting to use water on a fire that is being fueled by an unknown source, but if you know its Ethanol, water is the ideal extinguishing media.

[rosawendel]

my favorite thusfar from the local Cleveland stick & ball rag: "Indy cars won't race at Burke this year"

Convenient, since "Indycars" haven't been there since 1996.

[Stu]

my favorite thusfar from the local Cleveland stick & ball rag: "Indy cars won't race at Burke this year"

Convenient, since "Indycars" haven't been there since 1996.

so its accurate. :thumbup:

[indyfan31]

Wow.

"The problem is that water doesn't put out ethanol fires, and the foam that has been used since the 1960s to smother ordinary gasoline blazes doesn't work well against the grain-alcohol fuel."

from http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080226/D8V262J80.html

I can understand not wanting to use water on a fire that is being fueled by an unknown source, but if you know its Ethanol, water is the ideal extinguishing media.

Apparently it's not as obvious as we would think.

Many firefighters put forward the theory that it is possible to dilute an ethanol spill with water. The lab work says otherwise. Lab tests show ethanol diluted to 500 percent still burns steadily. Results do not support fighting a polar solvent tank fire by flooding it with water.
link. (http://www.fireworld.com/ifw_articles/e95_08_07.php)

[Elmo T]

Wow.


I can understand not wanting to use water on a fire that is being fueled by an unknown source, but if you know its Ethanol, water is the ideal extinguishing media.

The consumer fuels are all mixes - not pure ethanol, therein lies the problem. These blends require an alcohol resistant foam. The alcohol blend requires an alcohol resistant foam - which is fairly common - but some FD's may still be carrying the standard foam.

From the DOT:

Responding to Incidents Involving Ethanol Blends (http://hazmat.dot.gov/E-85_042606.pdf)

[cameraman]

Lab tests show ethanol diluted to 500 percent still burns steadily.

Well I want to know how you dilute something to 500 percent...

[JLMannin]

Well I want to know how you dilute something to 500 percent...

I was wondering the same thing. I wonder if they are referring to a mixture with five times the volume; i.e., one volume of ethanol plus four volumes of water still burns. Final volume is five times the original volume, thus a "500% dilution".

I never expect scientific literacy from journalists.

[eiregosod]

Maxim didn't even need to hear the latest Black Crows CD in order to rate it :gomer:

[cameraman]

I was wondering the same thing. I wonder if they are referring to a mixture with five times the volume; i.e., one volume of ethanol plus four volumes of water still burns. Final volume is five times the original volume, thus a "500% dilution".

Okay, now my brain hurts:saywhat: