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Date:         Sun, 16 May 1999 11:00:35 -0700
Reply-To:     "Bracken, Chris" <chris.bracken@INTEL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Bracken, Chris" <chris.bracken@INTEL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Burning Magnesium Engine Case
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

-----Original Message----- >Magnesium fires are extremely difficult to bring under control, and >really are best left to the professionals.

That is true -- except many so-called professionals do not know what to do in those situations. First, imagine yourself as a firefighter rushing to the scene of a burning vehicle. What do you first? Do you get out your trusty chemical tester and start performing tests for magnesium? Or, does the firefighter immediately recognize a "magnesium fire?'" There is science, and there is the grim reality of human limitation. Just my experience.

HK I watched a Westie ( 70's air cooled ) burn by the side of the freeway across from my office a few weeks back. Six minutes passed from the time it stopped with smoke coming from the back to a fully engulfed, ie. flames out the front windows, car fire. Fire truck arrived 2 minutes later; they hit it with the hose, and chunks of burning crankcase spread accross 4 lanes of traffic ! They switched to foam... Chris


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