Initial Email Enquiry –

Please be aware of this recent 'FINDS' cascade highlighting the dangers of LPG (Duel Fuelled) Vehicles

LPG Powered Vehicles

The following operational incident has highlighted how difficult it is to identify duel fuel vehicles, the problems with the installations and also how dangerous the outcome can be.

Three calls were received by Service Control stating that a van was on fire. One pumping appliance was mobilised with a crew of 5 and a Sub Officer in charge. On arrival at the address a van parked in a drive was well alight although indications were that the fire had been burning only for a short time. The crews reported that there was nothing unusual about the incident. One hose reel was pulled out from the nearside of the appliance and got to work immediately, whilst the reel from the other side was also pulled out. The Sub Officer instructed the firefighter on the branch to extinguish a nearby fence first to prevent fire spread to the adjacent house. The fence fire was extinguished quickly. The firefighter then started to spray the van with water and then aimed a jet through the open rear window into the cargo space. Suddenly and without warning a large fireball emerged from the rear doors of the van and totally engulfed the firefighter in flames. The fireball was large enough to blister paintwork and distort plastic guttering of the adjacent two storey house. The firefighter was seen by the other crew members to run away from the van a couple of seconds later (their words) with his tunic on fire. He was frantically brushing his head and shoulders and in the process knocked off his helmet. Another crew member pushed him to the ground and rolled him several times to extinguish the flames. Another firefighter used the second hose reel to douse his head and clothing. He was taken to hospital for treatment of burns to his head and face. He was discharged later in the day (lunch time). The injuries looked horrific but were described as superficial.

On investigation it was found that the van had dual fuel and was fitted with an LPG installation in the cargo section immediately behind the front seats. The tank had a 150cm split on the top at a point where the tank had bulged.

There were at least two seats of fire and it is assumed, at this stage, that ignition was deliberate and subsequent flames had impinged on the LPG tank causing it to BLEVE. The tank as far as we can ascertain was not fitted with a pressure relief valve, neither was there any indication on the van to show that it was powered by LPG.

The firefighter was dressed in helmet with visor down, fire tunic, firefighting gloves, overtrousers, and boots. He was not wearing his flash hood. All areas of his body that were covered were free from burns except for his head. The outer layer of his tunic at the back had turned brittle and had broken away when he was rolled on the ground. The inside layers of his tunic and overtrousers were intact.

Although further investigations are in progress, there were particular concerns that the LPG installation did not appear to have a pressure relief valve fitted nor was there any indication on the van that an LPG tank was installed.

The Operational Practices Section of HM Fire Service Inspectorate is currently working with the Liquid Petroleum Gas Association (LPGA) to provide updated guidance to the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) for all incidents involving LPG.

This work has already highlighted that there is unlikely to be any change with regard to the provision of markings on vehicles to indicate that they are duel fueled. In fact there have been three recent notable cases of the type of incident mentioned above and in each case, due to the fire damage to the vehicle by the time of arrival of the FRS, any signage would probably already have been destroyed.

With regard to pressure relief valves these may be fitted as part of a multi valve system and therefore may not be obvious. Also if the cylinder is subjected to localised heating the pressure relief valves, although operating correctly, may not stop it rupturing. In the event of the pressure relief valve operating there will be a powerful jet of flame leaving the vehicle. The direction that this is likely to travel in is either out through the front or rear of the vehicle. However, as it is possible to actually install these systems as a DIY fitment it is impossible to guarantee this.

Further guidance will be issued once the work with the LPGA has concluded but in the meantime crews should consider, in addition to the above, the following:

• LPG fueled vehicles currently make up less than 5% of all vehicles.
• Once involved in fire it is virtually impossible to identify the fuel source.
• Try to gather information from owners if possible or from any other available source.
• Use this information to inform the Dynamic Risk Assessment.
• Use of Respiratory Protection and Fire Hoods should be considered when undertaking firefighting actions.

1st Response –

I read an article some years ago in a South African newspaper by Reuters
LONDON – Queen Elizabeth turned green on Thursday, taking a ride in a London taxi which, along with her Rolls and three Daimlers, has been converted to run on a cleaner fuel. The taxi cruised down Buckingham Palace Road to mark the unveiling of the refitted fleet, which had been converted to run on liquid petroleum gas (LPG). A refuelling point has been installed at the palace for the Queen’s cars, which can now change from petrol to gas at the flick of a switch. The Deputy Prime Minister has also just taken delivery of his new official car, a Jaguar, running, of course on LPG. I wonder if Her Majesty has been advised on the dangers?

2^nd Response –

Reference the note on the FINDS system from HMFSI Ring.
There were a number of back street duel fuel adaptations undertaken in the West Midlands area some 3 years ago that led to the BBC making a short film showing the dangers of the unauthorised adaptations where safety valves were omitted and/or the installation was dangerous. The LPGA were involved in the production, together with the West Midlands fire Service. The 8 minute video staged 3 vehicle fires:

• A gasoline car fully involved - fire/burnout as we would expect
• A correctly converted car with duel gasoline/LPG tank fully involved where the safety valve lifts with a short increase in flame but no explosion and no fireball.
• A back street conversion with no safety valve and the resultant BLEVE

From the description of the tank provided by HMFSI Ring this would appear to be an illegally adapted vehicle although I do not, from the description, believe that a BLEVE occurred as total destruction of the vehicle with multiple fragmentation hazard would have resulted, as in the staged test. Luckily in this instance although the tank appears to have failed it was not with catastrophic results.

Reference is made to "three notable recent cases of this type" and I would be very interested to obtain full details of these events, in particular to determine if any of them concerned legal correctly installed adaptations.

End of email correspondence on Topic to date

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