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I caused a class D fire at work today (Now with Pics)

sandawgk5

sandawgk5

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When I cut my runflats down on the bandsaw at work I did a real good job of cleaning up my mess. I cleaned all of the shavings OFF of the bandsaw and swept the whole area down putting the shavings in the scrap barrel. This was all about 2 months ago.

Fast forward to today. The guys where using the band saw today and it started smoking in the lower wheel cabinet. They thought they burnt up a bearing or something so they shut it off and open the lower door.

Yep I did not clean out the chip trap and all 3 runflats worth of shavings down there somehow ignited:eek1:. They got it out by raking it out and seperating the unburnt from what was burning. It smelled like fireworks when I got down there. It was hot enough that it started to blister the paint on the door:doah:. The guys did a good job of getting it out and they did not even call fed fire so no one knows but me they guys and the Chief:D.

So the moral of the story is do a complete clean up of your work area when done. And mag runflats have enough magnesium in the alloy to burn when in shaving form.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program.

Dik
 
where's the pictures!!

Seriously though, good it was controlled quickly.
 
Good reminder! I'm glad it wasn't worse.

If only more people would reach for the camera first and then the fire extinguisher! :D j/k
 
Guys have tried to get them going from shavings and failed. Are you sure there wasn't oil or something in there?
 
thanks for posting. I've got plans to cut the runflats out of mine eventually.
 
that's really odd timing, I am on the phone with a customer geting pricing right now on two 30 lb class d rated fire extinguishers, the customer was just like, well although I have never heard of anyone having an issue I was told we need them..


then I start reading the forum topics and see this lol:crazy:
 
I got pics of the burnt areas of the saw today and will get them up when I get home. The guys were industrious and removed all signs of the incident so no pile of shavings and ashes:(.


Dik
 
Damn! Now I've got the temptation to burn a block. :doah:
 
A few years ago when I first came online with the fire dept I used to work for we had a house fire and turned out the guy who lived there did small engine repair in his big attached garage. Lets just say the rookie firefighter found out that bunches of magnesium block lawnmower engines + lots of water = big hot room:D:doah:

At the time someone did not know that lawnmower blocks where made of magnesium, but certainly knows now:D
 
Here are the pics. Not much to see really.

Here is the machine.
Fire4.jpg

This is the chip box you can see where the paint has burnt off.
Fire1.jpg

Here is the inner door where it started you can see the scorching on the paint.
Fire2.jpg

And here is the lower wheel. You can see some of the scorching inside. The yellow residue is a dry chem extinguisher they tried to put on it and realized it was a bad idea when it flared up.
Fire3.jpg

Dik

Fire1.jpg

Fire2.jpg

Fire3.jpg

Fire4.jpg
 
I know working in a mag plant, the worst thing you could have happen was a fire. Those Class D extinguishers are nearly worthless when you get a good fire going in some 98% pure mag shavings. Working the wharehouse we had to drill the large rounds, and that always produced shavings, needless to say, we weren't allowed to smoke around the big drill press. Although I could smoke anywhere else in the building, but that is because it won't burn in a big ingot.

Glad they got it out quickly.
 
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