Thomas Fire Hazmat Mitigation 2017

An engine task force assigned to the Ojai/Oakview Division on the Thomas Fire was requested to apply large amounts of water and high concentrations of Class A foam to a known smoldering crude oil seep fire. The area of concern would have required an extensive hose lay through partially burned ground cover and a heavy over-story of green oak trees. This created difficult access and egress from noxious smoke emitting from burning oil. After a two-hour discussion with Division, the Safety Officer and a technical specialist from Ventura County Fire, Arizona Task Force #324 declined to attempt this mission due to the unknown nature of the smoke content as well as a phone conversation with CHEMTREC who advised full vapor barrier PPE with SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) usage. (CHEMTREC [“Chemical Shipping Regulation and Incident Support”] is a leading source of information and emergency incident support for shippers of hazardous materials that was developed by the chemical industry in 1971 as a 24-hour public service hotline for emergency first responders to obtain information and assistance for emergency incidents involving chemicals.) Options were presented to IMT members to utilize organic vapor masks and to set up a sprinkler system to minimize exposure. Proper PPE was unavailable for the mission.

RLS, Exposure