Cedar Rapids Firefighters Now Ready for Ethanol Fires

By Dave Franzman, Reporter

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By Dave Franzman

Story Created: Jul 8, 2009 at 11:13 AM CST

Story Updated: Jul 8, 2009 at 4:23 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - The danger of a fire involving thousands of gallons of burning ethanol is something that's worried Iowa firefighters since the alternative fuel boom began years ago.

Unlike other flammable liquids, pure ethanol burns without a visible flame and water tends to spread such a fire.

But Cedar Rapids firefighters have now deployed new equipment that is specifically designed to combat the problems posed by burning ethanol.

On Wednesday, firefighters trained with a new $400,000 pumper truck that's designed not only to put water on flames...but also mix in a special type of fire-retardant foam used on ethanol fires. The Cedar Rapids Fire Department also has a portable trailer than can carry large supplies of the concentrated foam mixture that runs through the new pumper truck.

Pumper driver Marcus Burns says the new equipment gives firefighters some peace of mind. "As firefighters, we know now we have the capabilities of fighting those types of fires," he said

There are actually different types of foam used on different fires. Fire equipment stationed at The Eastern Iowa Airport carries foam used for fires involving aviation gas or jet fuel. Foam that works best on ethanol blazes is a different type. But the theory is similar--foam is used to smother stubborn fires that would otherwise require extreme amounts of water to control.

Cedar Rapids firefighters have never confronted an actual fire involving large amounts of burning ethanol. But accidents involving ethanol tankers have happened before in Iowa. Last March, a train derailment involving three ethanol tankers in Jesup forced an extensive evacuation as a precaution.

Firefighters had the ability to use small quantities of the specialized foam before. But the new pumper is capable of delivering much more foam, more quicker, over a larger area.

The new pumper used to supply the firefighting foam will be housed at the city's main fire station. Firefighters say most of the time, they expect it to be used as just a general piece of firefighting equipment. But having it ready for specialized problems, like burning ethanol, does give an added sense of security.

In addition to ethanol tankers, two Cedar Rapids industries produce large quantities of ethanol. Once an expansion at A-D-M is finished...the yearly amount of ethanol coming out of Cedar Rapids will equal 650 million gallons. That will be the highest amount anywhere in the world.

Next Article For Cedar Rapids, Proposed State Aid Hinges on Local Tax Approval

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