Milliken Fire Loss 1995

[Histfires71]

I am looking for details on the 1995 Milliken fire loss in LaGrange Georgia. The diesel fire pumps failed 30 and 45 minutes after operation due to lack of cooling. I had always heard that the Y strainers were plugged but have been unable to find any additional information. It seems odd to me that both strainers would be clogged so maybe something else was at work here. This was a huge IRI loss. Does anyone have any information on the diesel failures? Thank you.

 

[cdafd]

Did not read this yet:::

https://www.interfire.org/res_file/pdf/Tr-086.pdf

Check number 9 page 24. May not answer your question

 

[cdafd]

7. The plant’s two diesel engine driven fire pumps failed, at 30 minutes and 45 minutes into the fire, making the two independent on-site backup water supplies essentially useless. The USFA investigator was not permitted to enter the pump house, but the pump failures were believed to be due to loss of cooling water. The cooling water lines should have had manual bypass valves that could be opened if the filters clogged, but it appears that neither the plant nor the fire department ever sent anyone to the pump house during the fire, to monitor the condition of the pumps. Loss of the fire pumps reduced the available water supply volume by over 60% and the pressure by at least 50%.

Root Cause and Fault Tree Analysis of Catastrophes | Disaster Buffs | LibraryThing

LibraryThing catalogs yours books online, easily, quickly and for free.

www.librarything.com

 

[Histfires71]

I have that document. Seems to be some uncertainty at to the exact failure. I recall reading possibly in the IRI guides or an article published after this report that they had clearly determined the cause of the failure. For years when teaching I have told of the Y strainer clogging when explaining the importance of maintaining the pump driver. I've got to put it in writing and want to use a reference. Thanks for the fast response.

 

[cdafd]

Does not sound like the pump would have helped, even if it ran till out of fuel.

 

[Histfires71]

I would agree with you.