A boilover type of fire refers to an extremely hazardous situation where an attempt is made to extinguish semi-enclosed oil or petrochemical fueled fire with water. The hazard results due to the difference in density between oil and water.

What is boil over example?

If a liquid that is being heated boils over, it rises up and flows over the edge of the pan: Take the milk off the heat before it boils over. If a pan boils over, the liquid in it rises up and flows over the edge: That saucepan is boiling over.

What is boil over in chemistry?

A violent expulsion of contents caused by a heat wave from the surface burning at the top of the tank reaching the water stratum at the bottom of the tank. Oils subject to boilover contain components having a wide range of boiling points, including both light ends and viscous residues.