Some fires and explosions in liquids of high flash point

Abstract Many fires and explosions have occurred because of a failure to realise that heavy oils, once they are hot, catch fire or explode as easily as petrol. Some incidents are described, together with the precautions necessary to prevent them happening again. The incidents described are: an explosion in a distillation column; several explosions while demolishing storage tanks; a fire while demolishing an old pipeline; a plant destroyed when a spillage of solvent caught fire; an explosion in a lorry wheel; an explosion in a cargo of bananas; a fire while filling a road tank wagon.