Tackling Tunnel Fires:The Penetration Depth as determining Factor

The Dietikon fire service in action in the 3.2 km long Gubrist Tunnel in June 2012 (on the left): the firefighting vehicle cannot advance any further in the two-lane road tunnel. View turned 180 ° (on the right): extinguishing operations have already started in parallel, with the cross-passages set up at 265 m gaps providing good working conditions as far as the problem of penetration depth is concerned Quelle/credit: Max Häberli, Feuerwehr Dietikon
The Dietikon fire service in action in the 3.2 km long Gubrist Tunnel in June 2012 (on the left): the firefighting vehicle cannot advance any further in the two-lane road tunnel. View turned 180 ° (on the right): extinguishing operations have already started in parallel, with the cross-passages set up at 265 m gaps providing good working conditions as far as the problem of penetration depth is concerned
Quelle/credit: Max Häberli, Feuerwehr Dietikon
Quelle/credit: Max Häberli, Feuerwehr Dietikon
Quelle/credit: Max Häberli, Feuerwehr Dietikon
In the tunnel practice area: fire services can work and put out the fire close-up on the inflow side Quelle/credit: International Fire Academy
In the tunnel practice area: fire services can work and put out the fire close-up on the inflow side
Quelle/credit: International Fire Academy
Aids like the white cane (on the left) and the rescue basket on rollers (on the right) facilitate searching for and rescuing tunnel users in a tunnel’s large fire sections and over lengthy distances to the next emergency exit Quelle/credit: International Fire Academy
Aids like the white cane (on the left) and the rescue basket on rollers (on the right) facilitate searching for and rescuing tunnel users in a tunnel’s large fire sections and over lengthy distances to the next emergency exit
Quelle/credit: International Fire Academy
Quelle/credit: International Fire Academy
Quelle/credit: International Fire Academy

Seen from the fire service’s point of view, the risks in tunnels mainly result from the
necessary penetration depth. The expected heat load affecting fire services on the other hand is of a secondary nature. Consequently, the chances for successful deployment are largely determined by the distance between the emergency exits.

Serious fires occurred in 1999 in the Mont Blanc and in the Tauern tunnels and in the Gotthard Road Tunnel in 2001. As a result, the evacuation conditions for tunnel users were improved. Nonetheless, some users are unable to get themselves to safety and people do not always behave reasonably in emergency situations. Thus, the fire service must assume when a fire incident occurs that there are still a certain number of persons in the tunnel.

Heat Impact affecting Firefighters

Contrary to widespread belief, firefighters do not wear special garments to protect themselves against heat. Their...

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tunnel 05/2015

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tunnel 05/2015

Ressort:  Brandschutz | Fire Protection
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