Section IV. DESTRUCTION BY FIRE

Figure 2-2. Nonelectric Firing System for Demolition Materials.

e. Detonating Charges.

(3) If charge is primed with nonelectric blasting

(1) Clear all personnel from surface danger

cap and time blasting fuse, ignite with igniter or matches

zone before firing charges.

and take cover.

(2) If charge is primed with electric blasting cap,

f. Malfunctions Involving Explosives. Report as

take cover before connecting wire to electricity source

prescribed in AR 75-1 and TM 9-1375-213-12.

g. Defective or Unsatisfactory Nonexplosive

and firing charges.

Equipment. Report and turn in as prescribed in

TM 38-750 and TM 9-1375-213-12.

Section IV. DESTRUCTION BY FIRE

2-12. Fire.

wounds, or death. Observe all safety precautions and

warnings (para 2-14) for destruction by fire.

a. Destruction by fire uses flame and heat to burn or

damage equipment. This method uses combustible

2-13. Required Materials for Using Fire. Combus-

materials to start the fire and to aid in burning. At unit

tible materials such as brush, scrap wood, empty boxes,

level, destruction by fire (burning) is the least time-

rags, paper, oil, and propelling charges can be used for

consuming of any destruction method. However, the

building fires and burning equipment. Ammunition items

conditions under which equipment will be burned are

that have been specifically designed for starting fires

command decisions which are made according to the

and burning equipment should be used when available.

tactical situation.

a. Thickening Compound, Fuel: M4. M4 thick-

b. Flame with intense heat will burn most equip-

ening compound is used to convert gasoline into thick-

ment and supplies. Properly concentrating equipment to

ened flame fuel, an incendiary gel (FM 20-33 and

be burned will provide a hotter, more destructive fire.

TM 3-366). Thickened flame fuel can be added to com-

c. Heat alone may not always damage equipment.

bustible materials to produce hotter fires. It can also be

An explosion may prematurely put out a fire. Therefore,

projected from flamethrowers to ignite fires and burn

mechanical destruction should be completed before a

equipment from a distance. M4 thickening compound is

fire is lit.

issued in a 2 1/2-pound can (NSN/DODAC

d. Fires can be built to produce either more heat or

1365-00-926-4076-K91 7) or in a 25-pound pail

more smoke. Heat is desired for destruction; but smoke

(NSN/DODAC 1365-00-143-7139-K920).

may be useful for obscuring enemy observation.

b. Starter, Fire: NP3, M2. The M2 fire starter is

e. Destruction by fire can be hazardous. Fires can

used to start fires in bad weather. It is a small rectangu-

spread rapidly and become uncontrollable. Intense heat

lar cellulose nitrate device filled with NP3 incendiary

from fires can cause explosions that scatter fragments.

mix. Operating instructions are printed on two sides.

Burning equipment may produce dense, toxic smoke.

Pulling its scratcher wire ignites a matchhead mixture.

Nearby personnel exposed to intense heat, smoke, or

This ignites the NP3 incendiary mix which burns hotly for

fragments may suffer severe burns, lung damage,

about four minutes. The M2 fire starter is issued 500 per

box (NSN/DODAC 1370-00-219-8566-L621).

2-5