Post date: Nov 15, 2015 12:29:47 AM
(John Bohn - June 10, 2015)
Dear Colleagues,
I recently attended an excellent advanced fire investigation seminar sponsored by the Wyoming Chapter of the IAAI. During our discussions the subject of ammunition behavior in fires came up. One of the ATF engineers present obtained the attached report after a participant presented photos – one of which is attached.
It has been a long held belief that ammunition in fires just tends to “cook off” with the primers going off, the casings rupturing, and the actual bullets falling about harmlessly or perhaps traveling some distance in an arcing pattern that was not dangerous to bystanders. This was confirmed in a 2008 study. The researchers assert that “bullets and shot are not projected at velocities higher than you could throw them by hand.” HOWEVER, this is not always the case, especially with spitzer ammunition like .223 ammunition. A spitzer round is defined as “sharply pointed bullet; more aerodynamically and ballistically efficient than round or flat nose bullets.” As you can see with the attached photo, the .223 casing over pressurizes and ejects the bullet violently instead of rupturing like the casing of a 9mm, 45, 38, or 357.
.223 ammunition was seldom used until it became legal again for the average person to own various semi-automatic assault rifles. This ammo is now very common AND very dangerous in a fire. The bullets will discharge in a manner that is dangerous to personnel fighting the fire as well as bystanders. Even though the bullets are not in a chamber of any sort, they can penetrate walls, metal roofing, and protective gear.
I am not sure what the current training is with regard to firefighting in structures with known stores of ammunition. I would advise future training to include this potential hazard and I would further suggest that arriving crews query residents and business occupants about the possibility of ammunition being stored in the involved structure.
The attached report goes on further to explain valuable investigation information and patterns than can be observed in fires where ammunition has discharged. Please share this information with your department training personnel and any other investigation groups you may belong to
John A. Bohn, CFEI, IAAI-CFI®, CFII, CVFI
303.591.5784 Cell
303.990.9509 Fax
Investigator ~ Longmont Fire Department
John.Bohn@longmontcolorado.gov
Senior Investigator ~ Mountain View Fire Rescue
Liaison Officer ~ Boulder County Incident Management Team