From: sl@iconix.oz.au (Steven Lynch)
Subject: Re: Larousse Fire at Adelaide
Organization: Iconix Pty Ltd (World Headquarters)
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 00:28:26 GMT

In <96696@netnews.upenn.edu> royce@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Michele J. Royce) writes:

>In amongst the details of Adelaide, there was a question about
>the reported fire in the Larousse garage.  Despite the reports
>in the Italian press of a bomb type explosion with unknown 
>casulalties, it was a minor fire with no injuries or equipment
>damage.  According to the Lambourghini Engineering Technical Director
>the fire was a result of sparks present in the garage which ignited
>fumes during fuel drainage.  This caused a small fire in the garage and
>when the mechanic managed to get the container into pit lane, a slightly
>larger fire in the pits.  It's amazing how a story can be blown
>out of proportion by the press.

As one of the medical crew stationed in pit lane at the time I can more
or less confirm this story. The accident occured whilst transferring fuel
using a small electric pump. The pump failed in a fashion which caused 
fuel to spray over a small area and also caused sparks which naturally
ignited the fuel. 

At this point the quick thinking mechanic kicked the whole thing out of
the pit garage into pit lane and rapidly closed the garage door. This 
was fine for the Larousse pit but was not quite so fine for the unsuspecting
people in pit lane. The fuel container, after being kicked, spilt fuel
across the pit lane and the flames flared up reaching the second floor
of the race control tower overhead. As pit lane is cambered outward
(away from the garage entrances) the burning fuel headed directly across
pit lane toward my assigned position, luckily I had chosen that time to
take a break (it was between events) and was not on station at that moment. 

All credit to the fire marshalls who managed to control the fire in a very
short time, despite the well meaning but totally incorrect assistance they
received from one of the team mechanics. The fire marshalls were laying down
lightwater foam and had covered all but about a 2 foot square area when the
well meaning mechanic raced over wielding a BCF extinguisher and proceeded 
to blow a large amount of the foam off the fuel before he could be stopped.
This area, of course, then promptly re-ignited and the fire crews had to 
start again. Still the fire was extinguished very promptly and aside from
a relatively minor burn to the forearm of one of the fire marshalls there
were no injuries. 

With the exception of this little excitement pit lane was generally incident 
free so I was able to spend an enjoyable four days watching the racing.
It's tough but someone has to do it :-)


                                                      Steven

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Steven Lynch                  Email: sl@iconix.oz.au, ...uunet!iconix.oz.au!sl
                              Snail: Iconix Pty Ltd
Phone:  +61 3 571-4244               851 Dandenong Road
Fax:    +61 3 571-5346               Malvern East, Vic, 3145, Australia

Quote:  The drivers can see that the rain is dry
            --- James Hunt, Belgian GP 1992
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Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport