BajaNomad

Sad news from the Baja 1000

backninedan - 11-18-2012 at 11:17 AM

I was informed that two men were badly burned in a fire at the check point near Loreto. I wasn't there but was told a gas can exploded during a refuel, burning a helper over his entire body and burning the driver over his face and hands. They were both airlifted to a burn unit in San Diego.

I am just passing on the info I was given so some of the details may not be correct. If anyone knows more please let us know.

Ateo - 11-18-2012 at 11:21 AM

I'm not sure if this is the fire you are referring to or if this link will even work:

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/72145_5887528278...

David K - 11-18-2012 at 11:26 AM

Link works... very sad... where was the fire extinguisher pit personal?

Islandbuilder - 11-18-2012 at 11:58 AM

The fire extinguisher in the foreground probably doesn't have the range to get to the fire from a reasonably safe distance. A fire can be fought, an explosion not so much.
I imagine that by the time the pic was snapped, the only thing on anyone's mind was to treat those injured and to prevent more casualities.
A horrible end to someone's dream of racing the 1000.

Barry A. - 11-18-2012 at 12:03 PM

Well put, IslandBuilder.

Barry

Paulina - 11-18-2012 at 12:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by soulpatch
Doesn't get much worse than that.
Burns are brutal.
I am so sorry for those guys and their friends and families.


Ditto what Soulpatch wrote. Burns are brutal. Having been burned, 3rd degree over 1/4 of my body, I can attest to that. I am so very sorry this happened. I could see the extinguisher in the foreground of the photo and hope that it was there only because it just got too hot to stand in the mix to continue using it. I am thinking good healing thoughts to those who were burned, and those who tried to help and had to witness the suffering afterwards.

I hate fire.

P>*)))>{:fire:

BajaBlanca - 11-18-2012 at 12:29 PM

hadn't heard about this. very sad.

TecateRay - 11-18-2012 at 03:00 PM

Any idea what car/team was involved?:(

bacquito - 11-18-2012 at 04:27 PM

horrible-It will most likely affect these two people for the rest of their lives

BajaNomad - 11-18-2012 at 04:43 PM

Articles regarding the incident (spanish):
http://colectivopericu.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/accidente-de...
http://www.nssoaxaca.com/nacional/1-general/29186-sufren-que...

Looks to be Team Etter racing (Class 1, #112). Here's the notation in the entry list:
112 Brad Etter, Villa Park, Calif./Danny Ebberts, Menifee, Calif., Porter-Chevy
Reference:
http://www.score-international.com/774/press/Expanded_Entry_...

This appears to be the same vehicle a few years ago:






And from the site of the incident:





btw... gasoline typically catches fire... and explodes only when it's compressed somehow.

Islandbuilder - 11-18-2012 at 05:31 PM

"btw... gasoline typically catches fire... and explodes only when it's compressed somehow. "

True, when we're talking about gasoline in it's liquid state, when it's a vapor, mixed with air, it, and diesel fuel, can explode, or burn so freaking fast that it seems to have exploded.

I may be wrong on this, and welcome correction, but it's what I learned in my shipboard firefighting classes.

The principle take away from that is: Fire Bad.

The secondary take away: You have way less time to get a fire under control than you think, especially in an engine room. Things get very bad, very quickly!

Family Guy - 11-18-2012 at 05:42 PM

sad news indeed and wish them a speedy recovery. Just reminds you how dangerous this activity is.

[Edited on 11-19-2012 by Family Guy]

grace59 - 11-18-2012 at 08:39 PM

So sad to hear about this. Any updates on how these two are doing??

thebajarunner - 11-18-2012 at 08:58 PM

Anyone who has raced can relate to the sadness of this disaster
We raced because it was fun
Then something like this comes along
Prayers for all involved

beachbum1A - 11-19-2012 at 07:51 AM

Here is a copy of a Face Book post made by the sister-in-law of one of the injured.

A letter from my brother-in-law, Danny, regarding his accident at the Baja 1000:

I want to thank everyone for your thoughts, concerns and prayers. I look much worse than I feel. My hands and face are sore from 2nd and 3rd degree burns. I will be in the hospital for at least the next few days while I heal and they determine whether or not I’ll need skin grafts. They are moving me out of the ICU Bu
rn Unit this evening. Dan Caufiel received burns to 28% of his body but is in high spirits and should make a full recovery. His friend Ceasar had some minor burns to his arms and face.

The car I was supposed to drive (#112 with Brad Etter) had some bad luck at the start. It had a bad crash and was taken out of the race early. Our focus was then 100% on the #149 car (with Cory Kruseman and Rickie Gaunt). Cory and Rickie were doing really well for their first Mexico race. They asked me to drive from San Ignacio to Loreto to give them a break. Robert Alatorre and I got in the car around 4 am and everything was going good. When we got to Loreto and stopped at Dan Caufiel’s pit (Dan has been doing fuel stops for my brothers and I for 10+ years). We shut off the car and Robert exited the vehicle right away. As I was unhooking my helmet, I saw a splash of fuel and then the whole car was instantly engulfed in flames. I had trouble getting my window net down, which was a good thing because that was the side with the hottest part of the fire. I had trouble with my belts but finally got them off and was able to dive thru the passenger window. Luckily, I was wearing a two layer driving suit and full nomex underwear, socks and gloves. We still are not sure what the cause was, either the dry-brake plunger was stuck or the hose possibly came apart. Dan Caufiel was removing the left rear tire with an electric impact which, we think, is what sparked the fuel. With the car being fully engulfed no one was able to get in to help me and they all though I was still trapped in the car. Once I got out and they found me I received a lot of help from my team, other teams and spectators.

Dan and I both were transported to the Loreto Hospital where we received awesome care. Thanks to SCORE Rescue, my brother Dale and Antonio Cruz we were able to get two planes from Loreto to San Diego.

Dan and I are thankful to be alive and would like to thank Todd and his team at SCORE Rescue and our team, families and friends. We would also like to thank Fast-Aid for their offers and help

woody with a view - 11-19-2012 at 09:07 AM

as some may or may not know it isn't the gasoline that burns, initially, it is the vapors given off. the vapors can flash at temperatures to 40 degrees below zero and travel relatively large distances.

oxygen, fuel (vapors) and an ignition source.....

glad everyone is gonna be alright!

pappy - 11-19-2012 at 09:28 AM

yeah, glad to hear things are ok. man that looked horrible...

durrelllrobert - 11-19-2012 at 09:40 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Islandbuilder
"btw... gasoline typically catches fire... and explodes only when it's compressed somehow. "

True, when we're talking about gasoline in it's liquid state, when it's a vapor, mixed with air, it, and diesel fuel, can explode, or burn so freaking fast that it seems to have exploded.

I may be wrong on this, and welcome correction, but it's what I learned in my shipboard firefighting classes.


Not to interject technicallities into this sad news but scientifically this event was a deflagration.

Explosions can be categorized into two general categories, as follows.

In a deflagration, the combustion or reaction wave propagates at a velocity less than the speed of sound. Although all combustion (fires) can be defined as a deflagration, the ignition of a fuel-oxidizer mixture in a confined environment (such as a fuel tank or can)typically causes a significant and rapid increase in pressure that can cause catastrophic damage. These explosions are typically associated with natural gas or propane releases (gas explosion), gasoline and hydrocarbon vapors (vapor explosion), finely divided fuels (dust explosion), and certain reactive chemicals .

In a detonation, the combustion or reaction wave propagates at a velocity faster than the speed of sound. Due to the very fast reaction, these explosions create a high-pressure shock wave that causes significant damage at large distances from the seat of the blast. Detonations which can create significant brissance, or fragmentation, of containment vessels, causing impact and penetration damage are typically fueled by solid or liquid fuels but can also occur in pressurized or oxygen-rich-gas environments. They usually are associated with blasting agents or munitions (high explosives). Certain chemicals can also be boosted into detonation with a proximate high-explosive charge. A fire within a chemical warehouse or storage area may also cause a deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT).

Islandbuilder - 11-19-2012 at 09:57 AM

Thank you!

Deflagration=Burns freaking fast.

Darned discount dictionary.

bajacalifornian - 11-20-2012 at 05:57 PM

A link with a video of same.

We were camped very near and witnessed it. Amagingly, and gratefully, everyone survived.

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php/108214-Car-1...

BajaNomad - 11-20-2012 at 07:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajacalifornian
A link with a video of same.

We were camped very near and witnessed it. Amagingly, and gratefully, everyone survived.

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php/108214-Car-1...


Ateo - 11-24-2012 at 08:12 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjEvDU6j48g

More fire video............not gory.