This article presents a case study of a major accidental warehouse fire in Sri Lanka involving the storage of incompatible water treatment chemicals. The warehouse stored excess calcium hypochlorite alongside some incompatible chemical substances, such as trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) (CAS 87-90-1), polyaluminium chloride (PAC) or aluminum chlorohydrate (CAS 1327-41-9), linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (LABSA) (CAS 27176-87-0), sodium hydrosulfite (disodium dithionite) (CAS 7775-14-6). As a powerful oxidizer, calcium hypochlorite is highly susceptible to spontaneous exothermic decomposition when exposed to heat, moisture, contaminants, or incompatible substances. In addition to heat, this process continuously releases large quantities of oxygen and corrosive chlorine, leading to immediate spontaneous ignition of the bulk stock and nearby combustible materials and posing a risk of violent physical explosions of confined containers or spaces. This investigation highlights such a critical fire and explosion risk associated with storing calcium hypochlorite and reveals the catastrophic consequences of poor adherence to safety regulations. Key safety recommendations derived from this incident are provided to minimise future risks during the storage and transportation of this hazardous chemical, emphasising proper handling protocols, material segregation, protective packaging, and mandatory safety training.
Fernando et al. (Mon,) studied this question.