Fire extinguisher. Carry one?

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 3:53 pm

It's a long story that happened a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. BUT, eve since I was trapped in a car which was upside down and on fire I've always carried a fire extinguisher in any car I've had. Bit paranoid maybe as I know from an engineering pov it takes an awful lot for a car to catch fire these days -unless you've rolled it and not realised that fuel will continue to pump into and over a hot engine if the ignition isn't cut.

You learn from your mistakes, as they say.

This got me wondering how many others carry an extinguisher and if they've ever had to use one in anger?

I keep a small one, along with a few other essentials in an old Deutsche Post box in the boot. see photo. (i don't carry the beach parasol in there all the time but we're off to Castricum beach tomorrow for some sandy fun in the searing sun

)

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Marlon · Post by **Marlon** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 3:58 pm

Hang on a minute Chris, back up there fella . . . you were trapped in a car which was upside down and on fire

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 4:00 pm

Marlon wrote: ↑Tue Jun 20, 2017 3:58 pm Hang on a minute Chris, back up there fella . . . you were trapped in a car which was upside down and on fire

lol. it's a torrid, sorry tale colin. don't make me recount it please! Let's just put it down to a 'turbulent/misspent youth'

85genius · Post by **85genius** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 4:16 pm

Erm.... so youre trapped in the zed on fire so reach for the fire extinguisher and...........................

Its in the boot

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 4:19 pm

If I crash and am surrounded by flames in the M140i I'll press the SOS button in the roof or ring concierge

Tim.

firebobby · Post by **firebobby** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 4:30 pm

You have to be pretty lucky to put a car fire out with one of those, you need to get to the seat of fire very quickly. If fuels involved, then very very lucky to extinguish it.
In most cases I would try to disconnect the battery ASAP. tell us more about your roll then Chris

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 4:35 pm

Chris_D wrote: ↑Tue Jun 20, 2017 4:00 pm
Marlon wrote: ↑Tue Jun 20, 2017 3:58 pm Hang on a minute Chris, back up there fella . . . you were trapped in a car which was upside down and on fire
lol. it's a torrid, sorry tale colin. don't make me recount it please! Let's just put it down to a 'turbulent/misspent youth'

Sounds like a pretty normal day to me Lar.

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 4:46 pm

85genius wrote: ↑Tue Jun 20, 2017 4:16 pm Erm.... so youre trapped in the zed on fire so reach for the fire extinguisher and...........................

Its in the boot

i know. there's flawed logic at play there isnt there?
it's more a psychological safety measure than an effective one i tink

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 5:16 pm

I carry one in the passenger foot well of my old MG but not in any of my other cars. The MG is nearly 45 years old so far more likely to have problems than a modern car.

Worcester_spoon · Post by **Worcester_spoon** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 5:23 pm

My dad was a fireman for 30 years, so I have no choice but to carry one in all my cars (I get them as Christmas presents!).

In other news, I worked in a car dealership many years ago, opposite a BP garage. A burning car pulled onto the forecourt once as they wanted to get off the road and get help (and of course you'd choose a petrol station to do this). Never seen so many people appear with fire extinguishers in my life!

Grumpyowl · Post by **Grumpyowl** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 5:26 pm

I have one in my Z boot similar to yours Chris. Ironically in my DD which I do over 35k a year in I don't bother

I have one in the Z along with hi viz vests a bulb kit etc because I thought you had to carry one if going abroad.( I'm probably wrong). I'm not sure it would do much good in a real emergency and with the roof down I'd prefer not to turn it upside down

firebobby · Post by **firebobby** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:36 pm

I did 25 years as a fire fighter and attended hundreds of vehicle fires. So many times there would be a spent extinguisher or 3 laying by the burning vehicle. You would be very lucky to get to and extinguish a car fire with one.
Most electrical fires need sh1t loads of water as the wires will keep burning well under the dash.
A blown engine fire is fed by oil on to red hot metals and also need gallons of water.
A fuel fire, again is petrol on to red hot metals.
LPG is another matter and I would suggest you run very fast in the other direction.
In the 90's at the height of joy the riding epidemic, the muppets used to leave a calor gas cylinder on the back seats..just to make thing interesting for crews attending.

mmm-five · Post by **mmm-five** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:56 pm

Have had one in my Z4 from about a week after I bought the car.

Am also a Motorsport Marshall, so know how ineffective some can be against anything other than a tiny fire.

Bit of a 'firebug' too, so am always the last to leave the annual Marshal's fire training event

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 8:09 pm

I carry one, but as it is in the boot probably not likely to be of much use to me!

It came as part of a bag of bits issued by a previous employer to everyone who got a company car or car allowance. Seeing as I had a diesel at the time it was probably even less likely to be needed for that!

Marlon · Post by **Marlon** » Tue Jun 20, 2017 8:22 pm

Well Chris, consensus seems to be they are about as useful as a chocolate tea pot

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