What should I do if a gas tank catches fire?

On the morning of June 24, an explosion occurred in a commercial street shop in Yanjiao, Sanhe, Hebei, and some citizens were injured at the scene. It is understood that the accident occurred at the local Fucheng Shangjie Square, and it was initially suspected to be a gas explosion. The accident caused a total of 22 injuries, of which 2 died after rescue efforts failed. The cause of the accident and the aftermath are being investigated in an orderly manner.

A moment of silence for the dead and hope the injured recover soon!

Summer is here again, and it is the peak season for fires. Today, let’s talk about this accident and what we should do when a gas tank catches fire?

01. The difference between deflagration and explosion

The explosion was caused by a ruptured liquefied gas cylinder. According to news reports, a loud noise was heard from a local store, and debris flew everywhere, causing damage to more than 10 surrounding stores.

Many people may find the word "explosion" strange when seeing the news, as it clearly means explosion.

Let me explain here that the "Fire Protection Vocabulary Part 1: General Terms" GB/T5907.1-2014 distinguishes this phenomenon that we see in reality.

Deflagration refers to a combustion wave that propagates at subsonic speeds.

Explosion refers to a chemical reaction or state change that instantly forms high pressure in the surrounding medium, usually accompanied by strong heat release, light and sound.

In addition, there are a series of professional terms such as detonation and explosion to distinguish different combustion conditions.

02. What to do if a gas tank catches fire?

The accident was caused by a liquefied petroleum gas cylinder, which is a very common thing in our daily life, commonly known as a gas tank.

Liquefied petroleum gas, I believe everyone is very familiar with this. It is very common in our daily life, especially the liquefied petroleum gas in cylinders, which can be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys.

I guess many people, like me, have worried countless times about what to do if the gas tank catches fire? Should I put out the fire first or close the valve first? Will closing the valve first cause flashback?

Today I will give you an official statement. Officials from the Fire Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Emergency Management said that the correct approach is to judge based on the situation on the scene.

1. The valve is in good condition. Close the valve first. Slowness is the key.

The situation circulating on the Internet that "first extinguish the fire and then close the valve, otherwise it will backfire and cause an explosion" will not actually happen.

However, it should be noted that the pipeline valve should be closed slowly to the minimum state. If the valve is closed quickly, the pipeline pressure may drop too quickly and cause flashback.

2. If the valve is damaged, put out the fire first. If conditions permit, carry the liquefied gas cylinder to an open area and cool the bottle with water.

3. Prevent the cylinder from falling to the ground

If a cylinder falls to the ground, it may easily be heated and explode.

But no matter what, protect yourself, safety comes first, remember to call the fire department in time.

Summer is a hot season with frequent thunderstorms and high humidity, which is a high incidence period for all types of fire accidents. I hope everyone can raise their awareness of safety precautions to avoid disasters!