Breaking:Firefighters are battling a 'major emergency fire' in South L.A.

ABC News ^ | June 11th, 2010

[TaraP]

Massive titanium fire explodes in South L.A.

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Firefighters are battling a large titanium fire in South Los Angeles that began with an explosion on Friday morning.

Authorities responded to the "major emergency fire" at a recycling plant at Slauson and Central avenues at about 11 a.m. There was originally a report of a firefighter missing, but authorities have confirmed that the firefighter is OK.

There's been a report of one civilian injury, but no further information is available on the victim's condition.

Firefighters are asking the Department of Water and Power to de-energize the high voltage lines above the firefighters battling the blaze.

LAUSD schools in the area are being told to keep shelter until further notice from the fire department.

The Coast Guard was notified about runoff possibly getting into the flood control channel.

[ilovesarah2012]

Recycling is dangerous.

[TaraP]

[JennysCool]

What? The Lakers haven’t even won yet!

[ZX12R]

I wonder what is used to extinguish a titanium fire? I think it’s hard to put out.

[OldDeckHand]

A lot of people don’t realize that metal (like titanium) can burn, and when it does it can be very difficult to extinguish.

[I see my hands]

Too bad AZ hasn't cut off their water.

[TaraP]

Not sure..It’s been going for awhile now..

[I Buried My Guns]

Recycling is dangerous...

at a recycling plant at Slauson and Central avenues...

In some neighborhoods you recycle, and in others they recycle YOU!

I was near there once, at night. It was very scary.

[SevenofNine]

Jenny that funny ROFL

Just wait for that story hit the wires ROFL

[OldDeckHand]

'I wonder what is used to extinguish a titanium fire? I think it’s hard to put out."

The "dry powder" kinds of extinguishers. Class "D", I think.

When I was in college, I worked in the summer at a shop that did a lot of titanium work, with plenty of shavings. They had those Class D extinguishers everywhere.

[Ditto]

As a powder or in the form of metal shavings, titanium metal poses a significant fire hazard and, when heated in air, an explosion hazard.[71] Water and carbon dioxide-based methods to extinguish fires are ineffective on burning titanium; Class D dry powder fire fighting agents must be used instead.[5]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium

[Drill Thrawl]

That’s unpossible. Rosie has assured us that fire can’t even melt metal, let alone set it on fire.

[Jim from C-Town]

I think Obama Should call for a six month moratorium on Titanium recycling and manufacturing!

[Jack Hydrazine]

Those class D extinguishers probably had graphite-based powders in them.

[NavyCanDo]

“I wonder what is used to extinguish a titanium fire? I think it’s hard to put out.”

In the Navy we used PKP (a purple powder) for such types of fires. Airplane wheels and brakes was the most common occurrence, and you are right it was hard to fight and was so hot it melted through decks in no time.

[ZX12R]

In the Navy we used PKP (a purple powder) for such types of fires. Airplane wheels and brakes was the most common occurrence, and you are right it was hard to fight and was so hot it melted through decks in no time.

Wow! Very interesting, thanks all.

[mmichaels1970]

I think Obama Should call for a six month moratorium on Titanium recycling and manufacturing!

Only after he finds out "whose ass to kick".

[OldDeckHand]

"Those class D extinguishers probably had graphite-based powders in them."

I don't know what was in them. But, the year before I started there, they had a shavings fire in a collection bin out back, and thankfully away from the building. Someone had idiotically dumped some pallets in the same bin, and those pallets ignited which of course ignited the metal. I guess it burned for hours out of control. The next week, they had those extinguishers everywhere.

[Global2010]

Not so Green when a blaze aye.