Immediate Lethal Zone — Fireball Radius
Typical range: 160–820 ft
Hazards:
- Total engulfment by fireball
- Instantaneous fatal thermal exposure
- Tank shell fragmentation begins here
Used for: absolute exclusion zone.
Severe Burn Zone — High Thermal Radiation
Typical range: 820–1,300 ft
Thermal radiation: ~12.5–37.5 kW/m²
Effects:
- Third‑degree burns in seconds
- Ignition of combustibles
- Structural damage
Used for: firefighter withdrawal line unless cooling operations are effective.
Moderate Burn Zone — Pain/Blistering
Typical range: 1,300–2,600 ft
Thermal radiation: ~5–12.5 kW/m²
Effects:
- Pain within seconds
- Blistering within 20–60 seconds
- Possible ignition of plastics, rubber
Used for: public evacuation zone.
Projectile Fragment Zone
Typical range: Up to 0.6 miles
Hazards:
- Tank ends (“torpedoes”) can travel hundreds of meters
- Unpredictable trajectory
- Often the most lethal BLEVE effect
Used for: absolute no‑go zone for responders.
Overpressure / Blast Wave Zone
Typical range: 1,000–4,000 ft Effects:
- Window breakage
- Eardrum rupture
- Structural damage depending on tank size
Used for: public safety perimeter.