fire of aluminum slag (dross)

 

The generation, transport, and storage of dross in our workplaces is performed on daily basis with no incidents. Occasionally an incident will occur. Only through knowledge and awareness to the hazard of dross can prevent an incident from occurring.

A fire that broke out on the afternoon one day in April 2026, at the facilities of an aluminum company located (omitted), a few kilometers from the capital of (province), mobilized members of the (local fire department), although the incident was not extremely serious.

According to the information gathered by this media from official sources, the fire originated outside the company, within the premises of its facilities, and had its main focus on a pile of aluminum slag of not too large size. In addition, a small machine was burned as a result of the fire.

Although at first it might seem like a minor fire due to the size of the source, the nature of the material involved made extinguishing it a particularly slow and expensive task. In this type of fire, aluminium presents an added difficulty because it can reach very high temperatures and react problematically during shutdown work. It does not behave like other conventional fires and requires much more measured, patient and prolonged action over time.

We are thankful no one was injured in this fire. It appears from the media article that the local fire department was provided with knowledge and education not to apply water on a dross fire. Water must never be applied to a dross fire because an explosion can result. Dross fires can only be extinguished by smothering it. We have heard of dross fires being extinguished by sand, dirt, fine stone, etc.

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