I watched the news report on this and was shocked at how many people had left dogs in there cars while at the horse show. I would never leave my dogs for that length of time .
Really, Why?
- Thread starter t-tony
- Start date
In short, as mentioned, there were a number of 'running fuel fires' from all the fuel tanks meaning that instead of the fire/heat mainly rising it was spreading laterally and from below due to the fuel running downwards. 70% of heat rises with 30% radiating laterally meaning that the intensity grew with each fuel tank bursting. 1400 cars and let's just say 50 litres each = 70000 litres of fuel being added to the blaze at intervals (then there's the cars themselves, oil, magnesium, plastics, fabrics etc etc). Concrete itself does not burn as it gives off no vapours when heated to propagate and maintain fire. It will be affected due to the expansion of rebar but this takes time as concrete takes time to absorb heat though at these temperatures for 3 hours it would 'fail' in places.
From a fire brigade perspective, surround and drown tactics whilst providing cooling water curtains to nearby buildings, especially those down wind. Oh, then there's the polluted fire water run-off going down the drains. That's a massive task in itself to prevent. It would have been less polluting to let Buncefield burn out as the fire water run-off caused more damage but the directive came from COBR 'put the f***ing fire out, the World is watching this on the TV!!!!!'.
All in all not a good day but at least no known lives were lost and the horses were safely evacuated.
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Once established in a confined space there is plenty of combustible material to provide fuel, a limitless oxygen supply to add to and maintain the heat of the initial fire. There is then little to stop the fire spreading, setting tyres alight on adjacent cars, fuel tanks rupturing and feeding lots more fuel into the fire and pushing it down as well as up. The rate of spread will accelerate in all directions. It's a containment problem not putting the fire out.
While it was a Land Rover as the seat of the fire, cars of all makes have been known to catch fire. Singling out or blaming the Landy diverts you from the real issues. It could have been any of the 1,400 cars in there.
The few photos I've seen show some cars on the roof may have escaped significant damage but several parts of the floor decking have gone leaving just the rebar. Not going to get them out.
I bet there's lots of unscupulous people raising fraudulent claims so I suspect the insurers will be keen to get in there to get VIN plates off the wrecks. Any such claims is going to make it difficult for genuine claimants. I hope they also have security video of cars going in as a reference. I wonder how many will get a true replacement value in settlement?
Thankfully nobody died. Am sure this will become a fire to learn from as happened at Bradford years ago.
Horrific though it is to watch, all school kids should be shown video of (parts of) that fire. Having seen it you will never under-estimate the speed at which fire in an open space can develop.
That and Grenfell were due to circumstances constructed by those who managed those structures.
This car park fire could happen in any multi-storey car park.
While it was a Land Rover as the seat of the fire, cars of all makes have been known to catch fire. Singling out or blaming the Landy diverts you from the real issues. It could have been any of the 1,400 cars in there.
The few photos I've seen show some cars on the roof may have escaped significant damage but several parts of the floor decking have gone leaving just the rebar. Not going to get them out.
I bet there's lots of unscupulous people raising fraudulent claims so I suspect the insurers will be keen to get in there to get VIN plates off the wrecks. Any such claims is going to make it difficult for genuine claimants. I hope they also have security video of cars going in as a reference. I wonder how many will get a true replacement value in settlement?
Thankfully nobody died. Am sure this will become a fire to learn from as happened at Bradford years ago.
Horrific though it is to watch, all school kids should be shown video of (parts of) that fire. Having seen it you will never under-estimate the speed at which fire in an open space can develop.
That and Grenfell were due to circumstances constructed by those who managed those structures.
This car park fire could happen in any multi-storey car park.
Harold Shaun
Zorg Addict
Really sad you leave your car in car park to have nice evening out to see in the new year.
Then find out the car park caught fire, great start to new year.
But the local people helped them poor people out which was nice to know.
Then find out the car park caught fire, great start to new year.
But the local people helped them poor people out which was nice to know.