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Safety and environmental standards for fuel storage sites
Final report
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Firefighting incident management
34 The following actions should be carried out:
Operators should contact the local authority Fire and Rescue Service in accordance with the
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pre-incident management agreement between the operator and the Fire and Rescue Service.
The local authority Fire and Rescue Service should rendezvous at a predetermined holding
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point for the company concerned.
Fire and Rescue Service Incident Commander should formally liaise with the company
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on-scene commander (and site fire officer if applicable), obtaining information regarding the
incident, whether or not people are involved, the resources in place and the hazards and risks
associated with the particular event. These persons will form the incident control team (ICT)
along with any others required by the circumstances.
Establish immediate priorities and the potential for escalation. Local scenario-specific
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emergency response plans (ERPs) for the plant or area should at this time be made available
to, and be used by, the ICT.
Lines of supervisory authority and the means of communication should be clearly established
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within the ERPs to assist in effective reporting and incident control.
The ICT must ensure the safety of all personnel. This team should have:
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completed a dynamic risk assessment (DRA) and if there has been time, a written record
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needs to be handed to the Fire and Rescue Service IC on their arrival;
arranged for the DRA to be recorded and constantly reviewed. The DRA also needs to be
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communicated and the tactical mode declared, implemented and recorded;
ensured that safety officers are appointed with their responsibilities clearly established.
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The ICT should also:
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establish the incident command position;
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determine the operational objectives and the incident plan, including tactical and strategic
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considerations;
identify from the ERPs, the equipment, material and resources required, coordinating effort
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into sourcing equipment and materials to the incident;
obtain additional support/equipment/resources if required (via mutual aid partnerships if in
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existence);
implement the mutually agreed strategy by bringing resources on-site from the rendezvous
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point at this stage;
monitor and review the implemented plan for ongoing potential hazards and the continued
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effectiveness of the plan at predetermined intervals. If the plan cannot be followed or if a
deviation is required from it at any time then a DRA must be carried out, communicated to
all concerned and recorded;
establish welfare arrangements for all at incident scene; and
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ensure that media issues are addressed.
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Guidance for planning emergency arrangements
35 The event that operators should plan for, with respect to emergency arrangements, is that of
a multiple tank fire following an explosion. Emergency arrangements will need to be capable of
operating effectively following such an event.
36 The overpressure within the cloud was generally greater than 200kPa; the maximum
overpressure was probably much higher. These high levels of overpressure were seen in all
areas; there was no distinction between different terrain (car parks, tank farms, open grassland
and belts of trees. Overpressure diminished rapidly with distance away from the edge of the
cloud; evidence suggests overpressures in the region of 5-10kPa within ~150m.
37 Table 17 details typical effects of over-pressure. The effects of over-pressure are not exact
and sensible interpretation erring on the side of caution should be employed.