GUIDE
170

Metals (Powders, Dusts, Shavings, Borings, Turnings, or Cuttings, etc.)

• May react violently or explosively on contact with water.
• Some are transported in flammable liquids.
• May be ignited by friction, heat, sparks or flames.
• Some of these materials will burn with intense heat.
• Dusts or fumes may form explosive mixtures in air.
• Containers may explode when heated.
• May re-ignite after fire is extinguished.

• Oxides from metallic fires are a severe health hazard.
• Inhalation or contact with substance or decomposition products may cause severe injury or death.
• Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.
• Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause environmental contamination.

• CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.
• Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.
• Keep unauthorized personnel away.

• Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
• Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides thermal protection but only limited chemical protection..

• Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

• Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 50 meters (160 feet).

• If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions.

• DO NOT USE WATER, FOAM OR CO₂.
• Dousing metallic fires with water will generate hydrogen gas, an extremely dangerous explosion hazard, particularly if fire is in a confined environment (i.e., building, cargo hold, etc.).
• Use DRY sand, graphite powder, dry sodium chloride-based extinguishers, or class D extinguishers.
• Confining and smothering metal fires is preferable rather than applying water.
• If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

• If impossible to extinguish, protect surroundings and allow fire to burn itself out.

• ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.
• Do not touch or walk through spilled material.
• Stop leak if you can do it without risk.
• Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas.

ERG 2024