Abstract: A method and apparatus extinguishes an oil well or gas well fire burning as a consequence of ignited oil and/or gas escaping the well. The method employs an elevated chimney that is placed over the burning well to cause combustion to shift from the well to an elevated position above the well at the top of the chimney as oil and/or gas continue to escape from the well through the chimney. This provides a route for the passage of unignited oil and/or gas from a lower portion of the chimney. The unignited oil and/or gas can be conducted away from the well while oil and/or gas escaping from the top of the chimney continues to burn. The fire is extinguished by closing off the top of the chimney while permitting all of the oil and/or gas escaping from the well to be routed away from the well in unignited condition through the power portion of the chimney. After the fire is extinguished, the chimney can be removed to permit the well to be closed against further escape of oil and/or gas.

Abstract: A system for improving the work environment in a contaminated room while contaminated material, such as asbestos, is being removing therefrom, including a dressing room adjacent the contaminated room, a decontamination unit connecting the dressing room with the contaminated room through which workmen pass when entering or exiting the contaminated room, a filtered air pump for passing filtered air from within the contaminated room through an air discharge opening to the atmosphere to maintain negative air pressure within the contaminated room, a conduit connecting the contaminated room with the decontamination unit, and a filtered air pump for passing filtered air through the conduit into the decontamination unit to maintain positive air pressure within the decontamination unit and air flow therein from the decontamination unit into the contaminated room.