20 replies to this topic

[lepsch1]

After witnessing the out of control fire at the track tonight when Joey Petyak's car caught fire and began to burn out of control, I believe it is an absolute must that whoever the track gets to watch over the guys and gals racing, must have the proper fire retardant systems in place and enough of it to put out a fire very quickly.  What we witnessed at the track on Friday was absolutely intolerable and can never happen again !  If that young man who I consider a good friend had been knocked unconscious and had not been able to extricate himself from that car, he could at the least been burnt extremely bad or at worst could have lost his life due to improper chemical fire retardant.  This is in no way slamming those brave folks who serve Pine Twp fire dept, but this post is to try and get promoters and track owners to know what kind of foam or other chemical treatments are needed to put out a fire quickly at their tracks !!!!!!  This can never happen again like it did at Dog Hollow or at any other track for that matter. Racers also need to be aware of the safety systems put in place at the venues that they race at,  concerning themselves with what safety crews and equipment is needed when they are in an emergency is too late.  Again race tracks must have what is needed to put out fires for these exotic race fuels or not even offer auto racing at their facilities !!   You could see the fire being spread around when hit with water by the fire crews.  Then they only had one fire extinguisher being used.  The fire was running down and burning all over their hoses and was also running under the fire truck.  This just seemed to be overwhelming for these brave folks and even their safety was being compromised by not being properly equipped with what they needed to put out the racing fuel.  Track promoters, please please learn a lesson from this potential disaster that we all witnessed on Friday and make sure the fire crews know what the hell they may be facing in an accident at your track!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sundance]

A very scary scene.

[revbill87]

Very well put, Chuckie.

Racers often do not even know what the track has and frankly don't care until it happens to them. Just talk to Darrin Pifer about what it takes to recover. I hold Jennerstown as the region's example of a well trained and equipped safety crew. Not to be snarky but when they charge so much to get in the pits, they might use some of that money to buy additional and appropriate fire extinguishers.

[racer777]

Totally agree. I've witnessed a few fires at different tracks,and caught fire myself similar in nature as it was a fuel fire . the reaction time is usually slow and then not equipped with little to no fire extinguisher. Luckily for me and my car a guy from the pits came out with his personal fire extinguisher and put it out.most tracks have that guy that runs around on a 4 wheeler or gator but never has one. Why not have a properly equipped fireman on one of those. One at each end of the track. Glad Joe is ok. Not looking to run anyone down , just want to make this sport safer. Let's be proactive before we have a fatality to one of our own brothers or sisters.

[It'sTrue]

For all of the people that hammer PPMS on just about everything, can't get them on this one. They have one of the best fire crews around. Well trained, equipped, and dedicated. Thanks for everything they do....

[LM RACING]

For all of the people that hammer PPMS on just about everything, can't get them on this one. They have one of the best fire crews around. Well trained, equipped, and dedicated. Thanks for everything they do....

I second that!!!!

[woodhog]

Rev Bill is right. I am appalled at the tracks who do not have proper training on fire suppression, especially methanol fires.
If anyone wants to see what 3rd degree burn scars look like, just stop by our pits, and my son Darren Pifer, will show anyone.

[lepsch1]

Thanks Rev Bill.  Also sorry for Darren Pifers burns.  This should be the most urgent topic in our sport.  No one should have to be needlessly hurt because the safety crews are not properly equipped to help the drivers or protect themselves for that matter !  All those around me in the stands felt helpless.

[D1RT]

This should be a wake up call for EVERY driver at Dog Hollow Speedway and for that matter every track drivers in the area race at. 

I know it will never happen but every one of those drivers should refuse to race there until the track and what ever fire/rescue service they use proves they have the equipment and training to handle fires like this and motorsports related rescues.

[jo73]

What about the fire department ? Be it gas or methanol. Why the hell would you not be using foam or chemical type products ? Water sure as hell isn't the correct answer. Sounds like someone is either not trained correctly or its a cost issue. I had, thankfully, a small methanol fire in my garage on a concrete floor. A guy crabbed the water hose and the only thing it did was move it across the floor. A short blast from the fire extinguisher is what got it out. I no if we ever get back into it, there will be a in car system installed.

[Express Man]

What caused the fire on the car???Something break?  Doesn't usually happen! Glad no one was seriously injured!

[TEAM29]

There should NOT be a water fire extinguisher anywhere near the safety crews on the track....that is just asking for trouble...grabbing the wrong one under pressure could be the difference between life or death....

[SLMFAN]

All tracks or the fire departments should be using only AR-AFFF foam to extinguish fires.

[Racefan68x]

I am not trying to start anything or second guess anyone but why is it dans fault. from what I understand the fire department is usually paid to be there. not sure if that is the case at dog hollow. but I would think the fire department is well trained to handle any fire that happens at the track. I am not saying anything bad about the fire department. I just think that if dan is paying them to do a job I am sure he has faith in them to do that job. dan is a promoter not a fireman or a safety person. just as the fire department or safety crew are not promoters at the racetrack. again that is why dan pays other people who know what to do in case of an emergency. I feel if you are paid to do a certain job that is exactly what you should do. again I think the safety crew is one of the best at dog hollow and also some of the nicest people. but as professionals you need to be prepared for any emergency that come your way since you were trained to do it. again no disrespect to anyone at the speedway just offering a different view

[MBRLLC]

It is his responsibility as owner/promoter to require that the fire department on site is prepared for any and all accidents or mishaps that may occur.

[lepsch1]

I am not trying to start anything or second guess anyone but why is it dans fault. from what I understand the fire department is usually paid to be there. not sure if that is the case at dog hollow. but I would think the fire department is well trained to handle any fire that happens at the track. I am not saying anything bad about the fire department. I just think that if dan is paying them to do a job I am sure he has faith in them to do that job. dan is a promoter not a fireman or a safety person. just as the fire department or safety crew are not promoters at the racetrack. again that is why dan pays other people who know what to do in case of an emergency. I feel if you are paid to do a certain job that is exactly what you should do. again I think the safety crew is one of the best at dog hollow and also some of the nicest people. but as professionals you need to be prepared for any emergency that come your way since you were trained to do it. again no disrespect to anyone at the speedway just offering a different view

Good point Racefan68x  I dont know that answer.  Expanding on your ponder, that would be a good idea for the promoter to get together with whomever they hire to perform safety at their track and make sure they are aware of what combustibles that they may encounter,  this is an absolute must before a fire does real damage to a driver or a safety worker for that matter, and you can bet the lawsuits are going to fly if that happens.  And you better believe the way people are in this day and age, that could be a huge blow to a sport that is not unfortunately all that strong right now. Dan Sorvino seems like a really good guy who has brought Dog Hollow back to life after several years of mediocrity.  I hope he hears about this important discussion and approaches his fire safety crew this week and makes sure they have the above mentioned foam fire retardant to properly put out the next fire. And believe me,  there will be a NEXT FIRE !!

[bustedknuckle10]

Dry cemical is the only way to go. You can put out a lot of fire with a 30# extinguisher full of purple-K dry cemical. While foam is a good extinguishing agent it takes time to get the foam flowing, you have to pull a heavy truck in to position, pull the hose line off the truck, charge the line and introduce the foam into the water stream. Time, it takes time to do all that seconds are lost while doing it, seconds that a driver might not have to spare. With a 30# extinguisher filled with purple-k it takes seconds before extinguishing the fire. It's all about time when a driver is still in a burning car. This is just my opinion but it is made with 20+ years in the fire fighting service

[lepsch1]

Good point bustedknuckle10  I hope all promoters listen to folks like yourself who know a whole hell of alot more than I do.  People like you and the other folks who have expertise in fire fighting need to voice your good information to these promoters and race track owners before a real disaster does in fact happen.  Good point and thank you for your input.  

[SLMFAN]

Dry cemical is the only way to go. You can put out a lot of fire with a 30# extinguisher full of purple-K dry cemical. While foam is a good extinguishing agent it takes time to get the foam flowing, you have to pull a heavy truck in to position, pull the hose line off the truck, charge the line and introduce the foam into the water stream. Time, it takes time to do all that seconds are lost while doing it, seconds that a driver might not have to spare. With a 30# extinguisher filled with purple-k it takes seconds before extinguishing the fire. It's all about time when a driver is still in a burning car. This is just my opinion but it is made with 20+ years in the fire fighting service

Water can filled with foam.  Pull pin and squeeze just like a dry chemical.  Can be filled at the track after use with compressor water and foam.  Been doing the fire department thing for 20+ years and did track safety crew for 5+.

[lepsch1]

Got my new Area Auto Racing paper today and guess what is on the front cover, none other than our lucky to be ok driver Joey Petyak and the burning race car that we have been talking about.  Hope our folks in charge of providing us our entertainment on race night see that and note how out of control that fire was and that it should never have burned like that for around 10 minutes.  Thank you folks for keeping this post alive and on the front page of this site to allow more people to see it and maybe somehow make a change in race track safety.  THANKS

Edited by lepsch1, 14 August 2015 - 12:50 AM.