Fire and Ice

It's a little hard to see, but this firefighter is holding a chunk of ice that is on fire. You can barely make out the small orange flames on the left and top of the ice.

So how can ice catch on fire? When there is propane vapor mixed in with the water. At the firefighter training I attended this week, they were simulating a propane tank fire. The pressurized propane left the tank at a very cold temperature, and when it combined with the water from the fire hoses, ice formed on the open valve of the tank. It was able to sustain a flame because of the incorporated propane vapor.

Ag-Land FS supplied the propane for this exercise in Morton, Ill. and marketing assistant Sue Fehlhafer invited me over to take some pictures. I never thought I'd see burning ice, let alone get to hold a piece. A neat experience, and a great way to support the volunteer fire departments in their communities.