What to do if an oil tank truck catches fire？

When faced with a fire involving an oil tank truck, keeping a clear head and following safety protocol is key. Learn the necessary steps to take in this emergency to mitigate risks and reduce damages effectively.

What to do if an oil tank truck catches fire？

When a fire involving an oil tank truck occurs, it can be a potentially dangerous and devastating situation. It is crucial to remain calm and follow safety protocols to minimize risks and damages effectively. In such emergencies, taking the necessary steps can make a significant difference in ensuring the safety of individuals and the surrounding environment.

    Tanker drivers must master some of the ways to put out the fire, the critical moment may come in handy, oil tank truck fires, fire methods are as follows:

1. If the oil tank truck is on fire on the way, and they can not extinguish the fire, they should stop the vehicle on the right as soon as possible, and hurry to call the police for rescue. Immediately evacuate the danger zone:Once you find the tanker on fire, first of all, immediately evacuate the surrounding people to ensure personal safety. The fire spreads very rapidly, so you must leave the scene as soon as possible to avoid being trapped by the fire.
2. Before the fire trucks come, we have to find a way to save ourselves, for example, you can use quilts, fire blankets or fire extinguishers carried with the vehicle against the source of the fire to extinguish the fire, but also other coverings can be used to block the mouth of the tank to extinguish the oil fire.
3. Quickly establish a cordon: in the oil tank truck fire around the location, should quickly establish a cordon, will be surrounded by people and vehicles isolated. Prevent other people close to the source of the fire, to avoid further accidents.  
4. Spray water cooling: If conditions permit, you can use fire extinguishers or fire water sources to spray water to cool the tanker. This will help reduce the spread of fire and lower the temperature of the vehicle on fire. However, care must be taken to avoid the fire source and maintain a safe distance.
 5. If the oil tank truck is cracked due to high temperature and the oil leaks out, then as the driver of the oil tank truck, you can use the adjacent drainage ditch or dig your own ditch, so that the leaking oil will flow into the ditch and burn, to control the fire and avoid extension.
6. Away from the wind: if the fire oil tank truck in the open area, we should quickly determine the wind direction, and try to stay away from the wind direction away from the fire. Because the wind can promote the spread of fire, away from the wind can reduce the smoke and toxic gases on the human body hazards.
7. Prevent the spread of fire: In the case of a tanker fire, the fire can easily spread to the surrounding items, causing a larger fire. Therefore, we should try to prevent the spread of fire, such as closing the nearby valves, cutting off the power supply, cleaning up flammable debris.
8. Avoid the use of open flames:At the scene of a fire, we should try our best to avoid the use of open flames, including lighters, matches, etc. This is because open flames can cause a larger fire. This is because open flames may cause a bigger fire or explosion, bringing more danger to the people on the scene.

Overall, when faced with a fire involving an oil tank truck, keeping a clear head and following safety protocol is paramount. By taking the necessary steps to mitigate risks and reduce damages effectively, individuals can help minimize the impact of the fire and protect themselves and their surroundings. Being prepared and proactive in emergency situations can make a significant difference in ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved.