"50 firefighters and four powder trailers dispatched....."

A fire occurred one night in October 2019 at an aluminium die-casting company in Europe. The incident broke out at around 8:25 p.m. one evening in the vast 33,000 square meter building of this foundry. However, the flames did not spread to the premises.

Quickly warned, the firefighters managed to quickly contain the fire that started at a shot blasting machine. This imposing machine of several tons, which projects shot in the form of micro-balls to scour a surface of the material which covers it, however required a fairly technical intervention, said the Departmental and Metropolitan Fire Service. and a relief department from a nearby city.

Significant logistical resources had to be deployed with around 50 firefighters and four powder trailers dispatched to the site. It was a metal fire.

The machine contained a stock of aluminum which prevented the use of water to fight against the flames. "With the heat, water and aluminum would have produced hydrogen, a highly explosive gas," said one fire department official. Hence the use of powder of the same kind as that found in fire extinguishers, in order to avoid any risk.

The emergency services managed to extinguish the fire a little after midnight. No release of toxic product was noted. The damage caused, limited to the machine that caught fire, should not lead to technical unemployment for the company. The origin of the fire was not determined that evening.

Rescue workers remained on site until 2:30 a.m.

We are ecstatic that no one was injured in this fire. No injuries occurred not by accident but by careful planning and training. The local fire department knew immediately that water could not be used on the metal fire. In response they sent some trailers for of Class D fire extinguishing powder that could be used to smother the fire.

We have met with many companies new to our industry who are building plants where molten aluminium will be used. Every single owner is surprised when we tell them that they do not have enough Class D fire extinguishing agent on hand. Every single one. We explain that no doubt they meet the local fire ordinances. But, that does not provide them with enough material when an incident occurs. No doubt in the story above the foundry and fire department had communicated previously. Otherwise the fire company would not have had trailer(s) full of class D fire extinguishing agent.

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