I can't understand how some of my coworkers are allowed to work at a scientific research institution with how stupid they are.

Someone accidentally started a phosphorous fire today. Not only is it impossible to extinguish it with water, you can't even smother it. Phosphorous is pyrophoric; it ignites upon contact with air. As soon as you remove the cover, it starts on fire immediately. Even if you dissolve it with specialist chemicals, you still have to let it burn out.

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Northwest · M

It's a class D fire. Firefighters are trained to simply let it burn out. You can, however, put it out, by burying it in sand, to starve it out of oxygen, but you should probably get out of the room, as phosphorous fires, produce highly toxic fumes.

Seems as if your workplace, needs to educate all of the workers, especially given that they're handling phosphorus.

Pfuzylogic · M

@Northwest I saw one technique that used copper salts to create copper phosphide.

Northwest · M

@Pfuzylogic Copper salt is what speciality (read military) units use to control phosphorus fires. I'm pretty sure you can buy it at Home Depot. We used it in our incendiary bombs.

Pfuzylogic · M

@Northwest
I remember the USS Forrestal having a catastrophe with jet fuel I think they used purple k that was blown off with other agents causing reignition. I think there was phosphorus in that fire. It was our first firefighting instruction in the US Navy.

Northwest · M

@Pfuzylogic Yikes. I've seen a couple of people, with phosphorous burns. Not pretty.

Pfuzylogic · M

@Northwest 134 died with 60 other casualties and John McCain was a Pilot there in 1967.
He saved a life.