Anti-freeze is flammable?

[A930Rocket]

Anti-freeze is flammable? That's a new one on me.

Old story, but new report on what might have caused the fire.

Headlights focus in Ashley Turton fatal car fire - wtop.com

WASHINGTON -- Investigators analyzing the death of lobbyist Ashley Turton believe the high-intensity headlights of her sport utility vehicle may be responsible for the fatal fire that engulfed her Capitol Hill garage, WTOP has learned.

Several sources familiar with the ongoing investigation tell WTOP fire and police investigators believe the radiator in Turton's 2008 BMW X5 was punctured when it rolled into a workbench. The halogen headlights, which emit a bluish light and illuminate the road better than conventional headlights, stayed on after the radiator was punctured.

The autopsy into Jan. 10 death of Turton, a lobbyist for Progressive Energy and wife of a senior aide to President Barack Obama, is still pending, but investigators believe she was stricken and unconscious before the fire ignited.

The working theory being investigated by D.C. police and fire investigators and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the heat from the headlights, in proximity to the radiator's antifreeze, either caused or exacerbated the initial fire, which eventually ignited the garage.

Antifreeze is flammable, although it catches fire at 240 degrees Fahrenheit -- far above the temperature at which water boils.

Fire experts say antifreeze is rarely the ignition source in auto fires.

"It's usually the last fluid to catch fire, in a fully engulfed fire," according to a local fire department spokesman.

However, in June 2010 the National Fire Protection Association issued a safety alert about antifreeze in residential sprinklers.

Two engineers from BMW traveled from Germany as part of the investigation, which at this point is under the lead of the Metropolitan Police Department, company spokesperson Thomas Plucinsky tells WTOP.

The company provided investigators with vehicle service history information on Turton's car, Plucinsky says.

Plucinsky declined further comment until the official investigation is released.

While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requested warranty records from BMW for Turton's vehicle, a statement emailed to WTOP says, "The agency has not seen evidence of a defect trend in BMWs. However, we are in close communication with local authorities, who are investigating the Capitol Hill incident."

Turton was married to Daniel Turton, who has been the White House deputy director of legislative affairs for the U.S. House since 2009. They have three children.

Beverly Fields, chief of staff at the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner says Turton's autopsy is pending, awaiting other tests. The initial physical autopsy did not provide a cause and manner for her death.

From the start, investigators have not suspected foul play.

[Flieger]

Ethylene Glycol is definately flammable. It is just another hydrocarbon in that regard. It can't be too wet if it is to burn, though.

[Geronimo '74]

yup, flammable!



and sometimes, just for fun, they put it in a drinking bottle...

[Gogar]

Obviously, it's the antifreeze. Nevermind that pesky gasoline.

[on2wheels52]

Why was Ashley unconscious in the garage? Did she have a previous medical condition? I'm assuming she didn't crash into the garage, although I guess that is possible.
Jim

[pete3799]

Stricken and unconscious after hitting a work bench in the garage?
Got to be more to this story.

[pete3799]

Something is fishy here.

"Based on evidence at the scene, D.C. Fire Department spokesman Pete Piringer said investigators' "leading theory" is that Turton was trying to maneuver her BMW SUV out of her garage at 5 a.m. and around a car in the driveway when she apparently came into contact with some kind of flammable chemicals or other explosive materials. A workbench was located near the garage opening, he said.
“We’re waiting for lab results,” said Piringer. “It’s possible it was related to something mechanical, some kind of malfunction or it may be that she hit something in the garage, or something like a tricycle got stuck underneath the car.” He said Turton’s air bag did not deploy, indicating that if she did hit something, it was done at low speed. Piringer said that it was only once the fire was out and heavy smoke dissipated that responders could see that there was a body inside the car"