Clothes are on fire !? Beware of “surface flash” March 4, 20:38
"The moment I lit the gas stove, I was shocked.
It spread to my chest in an instant, so I was horrified." It's an
unfamiliar word, but do you know "surface flash"?
It is a phenomenon in which a fire such as a stove burns to clothes and the flame spreads in an instant.
I think there are more opportunities to cook with fire at home in the winter of Corona.
Especially in this season when the air is dry, I thought it was necessary to be careful, so I investigated it.
(Reporter, Network News Department, Ken Memida, Yasuyo Mabuchi, Soraya Sugimoto / SNS Research, Tomoyuki Hagisho)
What is the surface flash phenomenon?
Returning from work on the 2nd of this month.
When the reporter (Mabuchi) was checking the email on his smartphone, he received an email from the underwear maker "Wacoal" who had registered as a member, saying "Important Notice".
The content was to call for the collection of some products.
"It has been discovered that surface flushes may occur in some pajamas and bottoms, and we have been offering collection and refunds since March 2016."
"What is a surface flash?" When
you search the Internet, you will find a video like this.
The footage of the Kobe Municipal Fire Department's experiment shows that when a long-sleeved shirt burns, the flame spreads throughout the clothes at a tremendous speed.
According to "Wacoal," the product recovery rate was 62.3% as of February.
Fortunately, no accidents or injuries have been reported so far.
There are concerns about the occurrence of surface flashes, and we are calling for collection of five products, which we have announced on our website and email for five years.
Wacoal Holdings spokeswoman
"It does not mean that it will not burn over time, so it is the responsibility of the company to continue to announce it in order to protect the safety of our customers. Aiming for 100% recovery in the future Will continue to announce. "
There is also a danger of leading to a fire
We talked to a person in charge of the Tokyo Fire Department who is familiar with surface flash.
Tokyo Fire Department Fire Safety Technology Office Metropolitan Safety Technology Section Chief Masasuke Hosoya
"If fine fibers are
fluffed on
the surface of the cloth of clothes, the contact area with air is large, so it is possible to just touch a flame such as a stove or Just approaching it may cause it to burn to the fluff and cause a flame to run on the surface in an instant. This is called a "surface flash." This is what is called a "surface flash." It is a kind of "clothing ignition"
"Since the surface flash is instantaneous, there is no sudden temperature change by itself, but if you delay noticing it and burn it to your hair or move around in a hurry, the fire will spread to the entire clothes, causing an unexpected fire or accident. "
Whether or not there was a surface flash, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, 106 people were killed in the fire caused by "clothing ignition" in the first year of Reiwa alone.
What kind of clothes do you pay attention to?
What kind of clothes and materials do you need to pay attention to?
Mr. Hideyuki Sato of NITE = Product Evaluation Technology Infrastructure Organization explained.
Hideyuki Sato, Public Relations Officer, NITE Product Safety Center
"It is necessary to pay attention to the material of clothes and the shape of the surface. First of all, it is said that cellulosic fibers such as cotton, rayon, and cupra are flammable. Brushed surface materials such as flannel shirts and pile-woven fabrics are warm with air, but are prone to surface flushes. "
"Especially in cold weather, static electricity is likely to occur, and the surface of clothing tends to fluff. When it gets cold, there are cases where fleece, which is often used, has burned, so be careful."
Blue flame instantly from sleeve to back
Part of that fear was also talked about on SNS.
"I think it's an accident that can happen to anyone."
A woman in her 50s in Tokyo shared her experience by posting photos and illustrations of her burning pajamas.
When I overslept and was in a hurry to boil water for making tea in the kitchen.
"It smells burning. What's burning?"
I thought so and looked at the sleeves of my pajamas, and there was a fire!
I was able to sprinkle water on it immediately to erase it, but looking back, it seems that fear has risen.
The woman wore a brushed cotton pajamas, with the whitish pajamas sleeves burnt brown in the photo.
A woman in her 50s
"I like cooking with fire, but I think I'll switch to an IH stove in the future. After this, when I go into the kitchen, avoid brushed clothes. I also try to wear clothes that don't spread my sleeves. "
There are other posts like this.
"The moment I lit the gas stove, I was shocked. The fluffy part of the surface burned, but it spread to the chest in an instant, so I was horrified."
I talked to a woman in her thirties who tweeted this.
It is said that the moment the stove was lit to boil water in a one-handed pot in winter, a blue flame instantly spread from the sleeves to the chest and back.
"I panicked and couldn't do anything." The
hoodie worn by the woman was worn and had a slightly fluffy surface.
Fortunately, only the fluffy part of the fire burned and went out naturally, so it didn't matter.
What should I do?
What should we be aware of when a surface flash occurs or a fire burns into our clothes?
Mr. Sato of NITE says that the most important thing is to act without hassle.
Hideyuki Sato, Public Relations Officer, NITE Product Safety Center
"If you want to take off your clothes, take them off and try to extinguish the burning clothes by sprinkling water in the sink. If you cannot take off your clothes, use water or a fire extinguisher. Please use to extinguish the fire. "
He also taught me what to do if I can't take off my clothes and can't use water or a fire extinguisher.
Mr. Sato, NITE
"If you run around in a hurry, the fire may turn faster. It is said that the method called stop, drop and roll, which is practiced in the United States, is effective."
"Stop, drop and roll" is what to do when a fire burns into your clothes, and as the word says, it is said to be three actions in the order of "stop, fall, and roll."
First of all, stop to prevent the fire from accelerating.
Next, since the flame has the property of rising upwards, it falls to the ground to protect the head and airways, and presses the burning part so that there is no gap in the ground.
Finally, while lying on the ground, roll left and right to extinguish the fire on your clothes.
At that time, cover your face with both hands to prevent burns to your face.
NITE Mr. Sato
"First of all, it is important to prevent it. During cooking, remove the muffler etc., and when wearing clothes with wide hem and sleeves, be especially careful not to touch the flame. It is also effective to wear a flameproof apron or arm cover that is hard to ignite even if it comes in contact with it. Also, the area around the flame is hotter than you can actually see, so you do not touch the flame. But keep in mind that flammable items can ignite. "
Be careful of familiar dangers
While interviewing, I myself remembered the experience that the fire of the gas stove burned to the hem of the fleece of the jacket and burned a part.
It is a familiar danger that can occur to anyone, and if you make a mistake, it may have led to a fire.
I wanted to be careful again.