About Ethanol Emergencies

     Ethanol and ethanol-blended fuels are in use in growing quantities in the United States, and volumes have become substantial. Consumers in the United States use more than 140 billion gallons of gasoline per year. Today, there are more than 13 billion gallons of fuel ethanol produced in the United States.

As of 2010, the domestic U.S. ethanol industry consists of over 204 bio-refineries, located in 29 different states, with the capacity to produce more than 13 billion gallons of this motor fuel.

Until the late 1980s ethanol’s primary role in the fuels market was that of an octane enhancer, and it was viewed as an environmentally sound alternative to the use of lead in gasoline. With its 112.5 blending octane value, ethanol remains an effective octane enhancer for the refiner or fuel blender.

     Ethanol-blended fuels may include blends of gasoline and ethanol in any ratio, but presently there are three common ethanol-blended fuels. Most common is E-10, a 90 percent gasoline/10 percent ethanol blend, which may be labeled as RFG or oxygenated gasoline. Also common is E-95 ethanol that has been denatured with 5 percent unleaded gasoline. E-85 (85 percent fuel ethanol and 15 percent gasoline) is sold into a developing market as a retail blend for Flexible-Fuel Vehicles (FFV) only.

In order to understand the nature of ethanol-blended fuels, emergency responders will need to understand the characteristics of polar solvents and hydrocarbons, their differences, and how these types of products interact. Under some conditions, ethanol-blended fuels will retain certain characteristics as a gasoline-type fuel, and under others it will exhibit polar solvent-type characteristics. Understanding these conditions will help emergency responders mitigate the various incidents according to the conditions found.

Hydrocarbon fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, jet fuel, etc.) generally have similar characteristics whether they are flammable liquids or combustible liquids. Gasoline is a hydrocarbon produced from crude oil by fractional distillation. It is non-water miscible (which makes it hydrophobic) and has a flash point of approximately -45°F, varying with the octane rating.

     Ethanol is a renewable fuel source that is produced by a fermentation and distillation process. The most common source of ethanol in the United States in 2010 was corn. However, it can be produced from other products such as sugar cane, saw grass, and other natural products that will be conducive to the fermentation/distillation process.

Pure Ethanol is a polar solvent that is water-soluble and has a 55°F flash point. Ethanol has a vapor density of 1.59, which indicates that it is heavier than air. In a pure form, ethanol does not produce visible smoke and has a hard-to-see blue flame. In a denatured form there is little to no smoke, but a slight orange flame may be visible.

     Blending ethanol with gasoline has multiple effects. Ethanol increases the heat output of the unleaded gasoline, which produces more complete combustion resulting in slightly lower emissions from unburned hydrocarbons. The higher the concentrations of ethanol, the more the fuel has polar solvent-type characteristics with corresponding effects on conducting fire suppression operations. However, even at high concentrations of ethanol, minimal amounts of water will draw the ethanol out of the blend away from the gasoline.

Since both gasoline and ethanol-blended fuels have very similar physical and chemical characteristics, they will be transported in the same general types of containers and tanks. The most prevalent style of transport of the blended fuels that emergency responders will encounter will be by MC-306 and Department of Transportation (DOT)-406 style road tankers.

     Tankers carrying ethanol and ethanol-fuel blends will generally be placarded with a flammable placard or United Nations’ (UN) 1203 flammable placard when transporting lower ethanol concentrations up to and including E-10 blended fuels. The E-85 ethanol blend will carry a new designation for ethanol-blended fuels: UN 3475 identification. The E-95 (denatured or Fuel Ethanol) ethanol-blended fuel will be placarded with a UN or North American (NA) 1987 flammable placard.

The majority of the fuel ethanol (E-95) is transported from the production facilities to the storage depots by rail. Most of the ethanol transports by rail will be in a non-pressurized (general service) tank car; these tank cars have a capacity of approximately 30,000 gallons. There is some fuel ethanol transported by waterway on board barges or freighter ships.

Storage depots that do not have rail access receive E-95 by road tankers. There is some transfer of fuel ethanol from rail tanks directly to road tankers called trans-loading.

     Unit train shipments containing 75–100 cars of E-95 are now commonly seen on some key rail routes leaving from the Midwest and carrying products to various population and distribution centers throughout the country.

During 2010, the most common mixture of ethanol-blended fuels stored at terminal facilities was known interchangeably as denatured or fuel ethanol (E-95). Common consumer formulations, such as E-85 and E-10, are generally blended on site during the loading process for transport to distribution facilities or retail outlets.

The predominate danger from ethanol emergencies is not from incidents involving cars and trucks running on ethanol-fuel blends, but instead it is from tanker trucks and rail cars carrying large amounts of ethanol, manufacturing facilities, and storage facilities.

Many extinguishing agents are effective on flammable liquids. However, foam is the only agent capable of suppressing vapors and providing visible proof of security.

     Polar solvents are products of distillation or products that have been synthetically produced. Polar solvent fuels are miscible, that is they will mix with water. Polar solvent fuels are usually destructive to foams designed for use on hydrocarbons. Specially formulated foams have been developed for use on polar solvents.

     Alcohol-Resistant (AR) foam is a combination of synthetic stabilizers, foaming agents, fluorochemicals, and synthetic polymers designed for use on polar solvents. The chemical makeup of these foams prevents the polar solvents from destroying them. Today’s more modern AR foams can be used on both polar solvents and hydrocarbons.

     Alcohol or ethanol content of the blended fuel literally attacks the foam solution, absorbing the foam solution into the ethanol-blended fuel.

Foam that is designed to be alcohol resistant forms a tough membrane between the foam blanket and the alcohol-type fuel. It is crucial that these AR foams are used in combating ethanol-blended fuel fires, including E-10.

AR-type foams must be applied to ethyl alcohol fires using Type II (fixed foam chambers) gentle application techniques. For responding emergency services, this will mean directing the foam stream onto a vertical surface and allowing it to run down onto the fuel.

Type III application (fixed and handline nozzle application) is prone to failure in ethanol-blended fuels of any substantial depth. The only time it is effective is when it is deflected off surfaces, such as tank walls, to create a gentle- style application.

Understanding the properties and characteristics of both gasoline and ethanol will help emergency responders mitigate incidents involving ethanol-blended fuels.

     Absorbents and booms that are designed to pick up oil-type substances will pick up the ethanol-blended fuel. As long as no water is present, the ethanol stays bonded to the gasoline and absorbs into the booms and absorbents.

However, if water is introduced, even at low quantities, it will more readily attract the ethanol and form a water/ethanol solution that drains to the bottom of the fuel mix. In this situation, an oil-type boom or absorbent will pick up the remaining gasoline on top leaving the water/ethanol solution. The water/ethanol solution can then be picked up with water absorbing boom or absorbent. Keep in mind that depending on the water-to-ethanol ratio, the solution may still be flammable.

     Biodegration of ethanol in groundwater results in the production of methane gas. The presence of methane in the unsaturated soil in excess of the explosive limits may present an explosion hazard.

Methane vapors can be produced over an extended period of time and persist in soil gas for a long time at levels exceeding the lower (LEL) and upper explosive (UEL) limits for methane. (3.3% and 19%)

Detection and identification of hazardous materials using monitoring equipment is performed by most responders today. Today’s response community carries multi-gas meters on response units that allow for immediate detection capabilities to be put in place.

Ethanol and ethanol-fuel blends will burn somewhat similarly to gasoline fires; therefore, it is critical that all responders wear appropriate firefighter PPE. Protective clothing is designed to protect the wearer from head to toe and has proven to reduce the severity of injuries as well as save the lives of many firefighters.

     This is excerpts from our Ethanol Emergencies course. Do you have fuel tankers or railways traveling through your jurisdiction? If you answered yes, you MUST take this class!!! Contact our office today 866-929-7802.

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Ethanol Emergencies Course Registration

• Register for this course at our training facility in Oregon by contacting our office at 866-929-7802.

• Or, register to take this course using our web-based training system at your own pace by using the form below:

Student's Name

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Total Due: $49.95

4hr Awareness:

First Responders at the awareness level are those persons who, in the course of their normal duties, may be the first person on the scene of an emergency involving hazardous material. First responders are expected to recognize hazardous materials presence, protect themselves, call for trained personnel, and secure the area.

8hr Operations:

First responders at the operation level are those persons who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous materials as part of the initial response to the incident for the purpose of protecting nearby persons, the environment, or property from the effects of the release. They shall be trained to respond, in a defensive fashion, to control the release from a safe distance and keep it from spreading.

24hr Technician:

Hazardous materials technicians are personnel who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous materials for the purpose of controlling the release on-site. This is considered offensive action. Hazardous materials technicians are expected to use specialized chemical protective clothing and specialized control equipment.

40hr General Site Worker:

Hazardous Materials General Site Workers are those persons who respond to releases on or off-site. This is considered an offensive action. Hazardous material "General Site Workers" are expected to use specialized chemical protective clothing and specialized control equipment.

80/160hr Hazardous Materials Specialist:

Off site specialist employees are those who, in the course of their regular job duties, work with or are trained in the hazards of specific materials and/or containers. In response to incidents involving chemicals, they may be called upon to provide technical advice or assistance to the incident commander relative to their area of specification.

8hr Incident Commander:

The Incident Commander (IC) is that person who is responsible for directing and coordinating all aspects of a hazardous materials incident.

Chlorine Emergency:

Dealing with chlorine emergencies on 100lb and 150lb cylinders including plugging and patching, awareness of chlorine gas exposure, personal protective equipment (PPE), and current chlorine laws and regulations.

Confined Space Entrant/Attendant:

Knowledge of confined spaces, operation of an air monitor, Lock-out Tag-out procedures, warning devices, check-in and check-out procedures, and recognizing a confined space emergency.

Confined Space Supervisor:

Supervising Confined space Entrant & Attendants, working knowledge of gas monitors and calibration procedures, and implementation of Lock-out Tag-out procedures.

Confined Space Rescue:

Working knowledge and procedures to extricate an injured person from a confined space, ropes, knots, pulleys and leverage devices, extrication equipment and Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA's.)

Petroleum Tanker Rollover Training:

4 Hour Basic Responder

This class teaches support tactic to firefighter/hazmat team members. Basic concepts on Scene Assessment & Safety, Air Monitoring, Vehicle Stabilizing, Patching & Plugging, Damming, Diking, Spill Containment, Grounding & Bonding, Tank Truck Safety controls, and recovery theory.(3hr. Classroom / 1hr. Demo & Hands-on).

8 Hour Advanced Responder

This Class offers an advanced look into the inner workings of an MC-306/DOT-406 Tanker. All of the subjects in the Basic Responder class will be covered in much more detail. In addition you will learn how to Hot Tap, Pump off, Right the vehicle safely, and transport the vehicle off scene. Dome lock deployment, as well as the new Emergency Vapor Recovery Pump System will be demo.

(5hrs. classroom / 3hrs. Hands-On & Equipment demo).

16 Hour Specialist

This class is geared for the Hazmat Specialist or IC that will be called upon to manage a Petroleum Tank Truck Rollover from start to finish. Whether this was a Terrorist act or a simple accident, this course was designed to challenge your ability to “Think outside the Box”.  Training includes advanced ways to gain entry into a Tanker (without causing further spillage), multi chemical exposure, air bag deployment, and to Fight fire or not?  IC’s be prepared to get your teams’ feet wet in this class! Nitrogen drilling system will be demo. (9hrs. classroom / 7hrs. Hands-On & Equipment demo).

*** All courses listed above can be taught in Spanish***

I-100: Introduction to Incident Command System

Introduction to ICS, basic features of ICS, incident commander and command staff functions, general staff functions, facilities, and common responsibilities. It provides a foundation upon which to enable entry-level personnel to function appropriately in the performance of incident-related duties.

I-200: Basic ICS

This course introduces students to the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS) associated with incident-related performance. Topics include: leadership and management, delegation of authority and management by objectives, functional areas and positions, briefings, organizational flexibility, transitions and transfers.

I-300: Intermediate ICS

In this course, the student must be able to list and describe the duties of various positions within the incident command system, construct an incident management organization for a given incident or event, including appropriate procedures for establishing command, transferring command, and terminating an incident, demonstrate knowledge of efficient incident resource management including logistics, finance, administration, and record-keeping, demonstrate a familiarity with air operations, and demonstrate knowledge of incident planning processes.

I-400: Advanced ICS

This course expands upon the material covered in I-100 through I-300. I-400 focuses on large single-agency and complex multiagency/ multi-jurisdictional incident response. The course addresses area command and staff issues, as well as the planning, logistical, and fiscal considerations associated with complex incident management and interagency coordination.