| Do
Trucks Frequently Catch Fire?
All
big rigs use diesel fuel. Diesel fuel is harder to ignite that
regular fuel. In fact the flash point of diesel fuel in the
tank is about 140 degrees farenheit. Compare this to the flash
point of regular gasoline in the tank of -35 degrees farenheit.
Since big rigs typically carry 100 gallons of diesel fuel,
if the fuel is ignited, it can be a major castrophy for the
rig, its driver and any passenger vehicles in the area. Most
diesel fuel in trucks is heated by recirculation through the
fuel pump. However, because of the high flash point of this
fuel, a large energy source is generally required to ignite
even this warm fuel.
Unlike passenger crashes with gasoline, rupture of the fuel
tank will probably not ignite the diesel fuel through sparks
or a hot exhaust manifold. Of course, if the big rig is carrying
flamable materials a rupture could easily ignite those materials
and cause thereby giving the diesel fuel an ignition source.
Absent that scenario, research suggests that the most likely
ignition source for a diesel fuel fire in a roll over or collision
is the battery box.
Crushing or shorting out the batteries in conjunction with
a tank rupture may create a large fire. To avoid this potential
problem the best solution is to move the batteries. If they
are placed behind the cab in front of the fifth wheel, or
inside the frame rails so that the frame rails protect them,
there is a much better chance that a collision or roll over
will cause the batteries to ignite any diesel fuel leaking
from a ruptured gas tank.
If the batteries cannot be moved because of potential interference,
the next best suggestion is to put a heaby gage steel box
over the batteries to protect them. However, if this is done
the cage should not be welded to the frame rail. This will
ruin the heat treatment and the rail will break. The steel
protective battery box should be bolted on.
Most drivers also carry a fire extinguisher in the cab to
address potential sources of fuel ignition in an accident.
Since many drivers smoke, this is a good idea. However, if
the rig rolls over, the lack of crashworthiness of most cabs
will cause the cab to crush likely killing or severely injuring
the driver. If he was smoking at the time of the accident,
his ability to use the fire extinguisher after a crash to
extinguish a lit cigarette will be virtually nonexistant. |
