Oxygen fire. Please read

[Simon TW]

I posted this on the other place, about six weeks after I posted it I was told of another unit going up in flames.

Just a gentle reminder to al of you CCR divers out there.

One of my former students has had an O2 fire in her unit. Not that it matters but to save all of the questions it was an AP Evolution. She turned on the O2 nice and slow as normal and within seconds it was on fire.

The unit was very quickly put into the water, they reckon about 30 seconds. Within that time there wasn't much left of it. It was really burned, the heat must have been so intense, all of the unit is barely recognisable. There is nothing left to salvage.

The thing that sticks in my mind is that if she had been wearing it when she turned on the O2 then there would have been a very sad outcome indeed.

From now I no longer turn on the O2 whilst I'm wearing a rebreather. I would advise everyone else to do the same.

[Rob Dobson]

Damn... I'm nearly always wearing my unit when switch the gases on; not any more.

I guess the unit being tied to the boat when you switch the gases on could be worse still as the delay in getting it untied whilst on fire could take out the entire boat. Hhhhhmmmm...

[JPTaylor]

Damn... I'm nearly always wearing my unit when switch the gases on; not any more.

I have always turned unit on when not wearing it, do everything short of pre-breath. Find it much easier to open valves & generally set-up.

[Ruffy]

Shocking stuff!
I dont think that anyone in our group switches o2 on while wearing the unit, I will show the pics around just to be sure

[thetrickster]

Do we have any indication what caused the fire?

First stages - What condition where they in? When were they last serviced?
O2 Source - how was the 2ltr filled? Is it a known source?
Cylinders - in test?

Do you know the source of the fire? HP Port? LP Port? OPV?

Man, that is shocking
I'm hoping we can learn from this.

Glad she was okay.

[Scuba steve]

Boom .

I'd say it was a terrifying moment for the poor girl when it happened . Glad no one was hurt

[dwhitlow]

Do we have any indication what caused the fire?

First stages - What condition where they in? When were they last serviced?
O2 Source - how was the 2ltr filled? Is it a known source?
Cylinders - in test?

Do you know the source of the fire? HP Port? LP Port? OPV?

Man, that is shocking
I'm hoping we can learn from this.

Glad she was okay.

Agreed, it would be useful if there were identified factors.

I'll not show the missus that picture....

If I didn't take the booster outside to pump O2 I certainly would now!
(it was rather chlly last night as well)

[Kermit]

Take a look here.

http://www.thediveforum.com/incident...essure-o2.html

Not for the feint hearted..

ps. I turn my O2 on when the unit is on my back (leaky valve and all that). I think I might change that habit.

[ray]

Hi.

It could be anything which caused it, particle impingement, O ring blowing allowing a rush of 02, not fitting the 1st stage properly on the 02 bottle allowing oxygen to escape at pressure through the threads, favourite wrong grease contamination.. Dangerous stuff pure 02.

Either way lucky to get away with it without injury to anyone.. This one didn't



ray.

[nickb]

Reckon the service bill might be a bit pricey. I wonder if the cells are still OK