What to Do if Your Heating Oil Tank Catches Fire
Posted on: 3 April 2017
Heating oil is a very efficient way of keeping large areas moderately warm and small areas really warm. Of course, there are certain dangers involved with heating oil, and owners of heating oil tanks and heating oil furnaces need to always be on the lookout for these dangers. In the event that your heating oil tank is open and catches fire, here is what you need to do.
If the Fire Is Still Small
If you have a Class B (oil and grease) fire extinguisher or a fire extinguisher approved for use on oil and grease fires, you can attempt to put out the small fire yourself. You should be aware of the fact that most heating oil fires are not discovered until they have blown into raging fires, but if you spot it immediately, you could try to put it out with the fire extinguisher. If the fire cannot be put out or you discovered it too late, get as far away from the oil tank as possible. Get everyone in the area to safety, a good several hundred yards away.
If the Fire Is Large or Out of Control
Oil fires are extremely dangerous. They can turn into explosions in a hurry. If you spot your heating oil tank on fire, and it clearly is burning fast, get out and away from the fire as fast as you can! If there are other buildings or houses nearby, try to to warn them, and then call the fire and rescue teams. Look for shelter several hundred feet away, as an explosion may send debris in every direction. This type of fire will continue to burn until there is nothing left to fuel it, so you need to call firefighters as soon as possible to manage the situation.
If the Tank Is Empty
There is a reason why your heating oil tank has a "no smoking" or "no flames" sticker attached to it. Even a seemingly empty tank can catch fire with a few sparks dropped inside. This is because your heating oil is highly flammable, and the littlest amount can still start a fire. If there is still some heating oil left in the line between the tank and your furnace, the smallest flame can travel into the line, burning the fuel as it goes and finding its way into your furnace. Avoid open flames and burning anything anywhere near your heating oil tank and you will never have to worry about any of the above.
For more information about properly maintaining heating oil, visit resources like https://www.cashoilco.com/.
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