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CDL · Emergencies

A petroleum tanker catches fire after a crash. What is the most critical life-safety action?

Correct answer

Evacuate all personnel from the area to at least 1,000 feet (300 meters) and call 911 — a burning petroleum tanker is a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) risk; do not fight the fire; do not re-enter the area

  1. A Try to extinguish the fire with the on-board extinguisher
  2. B Evacuate all personnel from the area to at least 1,000 feet (300 meters) and call 911 — a burning petroleum tanker is a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) risk; do not fight the fire; do not re-enter the area
  3. C Stand by the truck to direct traffic
  4. D Call the shipper before calling 911

Why this is the answer

BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) is the catastrophic failure mode of a tanker fire. Heat from the fire builds pressure inside the tank; if pressure relief valves fail to vent fast enough, the tank can rupture explosively — launching fragments 1,000+ feet and creating a fireball. THIS IS NOT A FIRE THAT CAN BE FOUGHT WITH HAND EXTINGUISHERS. Correct response: evacuate ALL people to 1,000 feet minimum; call 911 immediately; provide location and cargo information; do not re-enter even after the fire appears to diminish — BLEVE can occur as the fire weakens the tank structure. Only specialized hazmat fire units with foam and water curtain capability can address fuel tanker fires.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Chapter 10, Tank Vehicles, Fire Emergency and BLEVE

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