Fire extinguishing agents

Sounds pretty basic...what is your track using to extinguish fires? Some might say that if that is the biggest problem at your track, things are pretty good. Whether you are a driver or safety team member, it is a question worth asking.

In review of the basics, in racing, extinguishers tend to be dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or water-based. After using and studying all 3 extensively, I recommend using a water-based system backed up with a level of dry chemical.

Back in the day, PTS started using a pressurized tank of "light water", a water and AFFF solution. It was pressurized with compressed air in the same vessel and a garden hose with a spray nozzle. Using the water system became increasing popular with our crews and the owners in that is was very effective, inexpensive, and required little additional cleanup. The rest of racing safety has largely used dry chemical...it is reasonably effective, requires little cleanup, and is operational challenging. If you dump dry chem, it requires an inventory of spare extinguishers or a crew that has the tools and experience to refill quickly...I have done both and refilling dry chem is not easy.

I must give Terry Kibler, safety director at Eldora Speedway, lots of credit for implementing a system at Eldora based on Cold Fire and water in 1.5, 2.5 gal. hand-helds with 20 and 30 gallon systems with 50' hand-lines. We do carry a few dry chem bottles for good measure. A brief synopsis of Cold Fire...mixes with water...pressurized with compressed air...rated for A and B fires...the big advantages includes removing heat very effectively, no cloud of dust that restricts vision and breathing, and non-toxic/non-corrosive/biodegradable. Using Cold Fire directly on or around a driver in a closed cockpit does not cause the problems

We have been fortunate to have had few fires worth mentioning in the past four years at Eldora. The ones we have had were quickly extinguished with our Cold Fire bottles...with no re-ignition. The ability of Cold Fire to remove heat is remarkable...10 times better than tap water...brake fires do not re-ignite...engine fires with oil on headers are no problem...fuel spills do not ignite when diluted with the agent. Being based on water, the preferred agent for methanol, the Cold Fire system makes an awesome system for midgets, sprints, Indy cars, and other methanol fueled cars. If we do use hand-helds, we have pre-mixed solution...any compressor will bring us back in service. Our larger systems use SCUBA or SCBA bottle to pressurize them...easy to change and recharge.

Give what is being used at your track a serious look. Use of dry chem on or around people is not the best idea. It is also hard on engines and equipment. The effectiveness of Cold Fire is truly remarkable. When you can carry 30 gals of solution that are as effective as 300 gals of water...that is a good thing. Look at what you use and why...it is an interesting exercise.