Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) has been a killer of many firefighters.

Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) has been a killer of many firefighters. With training and knowing why these tanks BLEVE a firefighter can recognize when they should be nearby and when they shouldn’t. Here is a training video from the Chemical Safety Board. When the fire impinges above the liquid level the tank will fail catastrophically. So why not apply the first protective action which is non intervention. Use unmanned monitors to cool the tanks. If you can’t extinguish the fire next to the tank, evacuate and isolate the area and let it explode. Of all of the hazardous materials out there you may ask why I am focusing on propane. Its because BLEVE’s have killed many firefighters. BLEVE’s can be any container under pressure due to thermal expansion within a container or tank from a boiling liquid.