A big fire, thick clouds of smoke, sirens in the distance. Moments later, the reassuring message appears: “No hazardous substances have been released.” But wait a minute, you think. Isn’t it easy to smoke? And what about modern materials such as solar panels or electric cars? Do those fires make it more dangerous than before?
Smoke of a fire is harmful in all cases, but Bart Raaijmakers of the Drenthe Security Region leaves no misunderstanding. “Each fire releases toxic substances,” he says. This applies to a burning trash can, but also to a complete stable or factory. Even wood smoke already contains harmful substances. Exactly how toxic the smoke is depends on what burns, for example, plastic, paint, chemical substances or insulation material.
Yet you often hear that ‘no hazardous substances’ have been released. What is meant by that: on top of the standard smoke that is always toxic, there are no exceptionally dangerous chemicals measured. The smoke itself remains unhealthy, but as long as you stay away and close windows and doors, the risk for local residents is usually limited. That nuance often disappears into short messages, which can lead to confusion.
Modern materials and techniques provide different fire scenarios than before. Take solar panels: they continue to generate electricity as long as light falls on it, even during a fire. That makes extinguishing more difficult and dangerous for firefighters. “You have to keep enough distance, and sometimes it is impossible to easily reach a roof from above,” said Raaijmakers. Moreover, with many heat tiny glass particles can take off from the panels and descend in the area.
Battery fires are also a growing problem. Lithium-ion batteries, such as in electric bicycles, tools and cars, produce large amounts of toxic smoke in the event of a fire and are difficult to extinguish. They fall under what the fire brigade calls ‘smoke with a chemical edge’: difficult to predict, difficult to combat and dangerous for people and the environment.
Not only batteries and solar panels provide extra attention for burning. The building materials in modern houses also play a role. Think of insulation in the cavity wall, such as EPS pearls or PUR foam. Some of these products can produce a lot of smoke in the event of a fire, which can be extra harmful due to the chemical composition. According to Raaijmakers, heat pumps, on the other hand, do not constitute an increased risk: they can be made completely voltage -free and therefore do not yield any extra dangers during a fire.
The fire brigade therefore no longer looks at flames alone. It is closely monitored what is released, how much smoke there is, and what substances are there. For example, with industrial fires where chemicals are stored, extra measuring equipment is often used immediately. But also with housing fires are seriously measured, especially if modern installations or plastics are involved.
Although the risks in the event of a fire change, that does not automatically mean that burning for the environment are more dangerous than before. “The risks are mainly otherwise,” says Raaijmakers. It requires more knowledge, better training and new techniques. There is also plenty of effort: the fire brigade works with smoke distribution models and measures immediately on the spot or extra warnings are required. Sometimes that leads to a call to close windows. In other cases, people must temporarily leave their house.
What continues to apply: smoke is always harmful. Even if you do not live right next to the fire, it is important to follow instructions from emergency services. Stay out of the smoke, close ventilation and windows, and use your common sense. Whether it is a chimney fire or a company hall with solar panels can be treacherous.