Fire extinguisher..

[Bakdraft007]

So, following on from the shock of my Stag catching fire, I realised I was woefully unprepared to put out the fire. Which, lets face facts, should not be an urealistic event for cars that are no 50 years old.

In my incident, my house was only 150 yards away and we have good CO2 extinguishers there. They did the job fine... and no mess left behind.

In my opinion the CO2 extinguisher is the best general purpose device for dealing with most fires and especially cars. The only areas they are not so good on is pooled fuel due to the potential of blowing it everywhere and windy situations (possible with cars)

So, what to do. The problem is the smallest you can get a CO2 extinguisher is 2 KG... which is still pretty big to put in a car. the other general choices are: Foam and powder, both of which leave a reall mess behind ( OK better than no car mind) water is not good due to the electrics which is the most likely cause of the fire in a car.

I did some research and came up with this:
Fire extinguisher.png

This is a neat fireextinguisher that is only 11 inches tall. It contains a propriety liquid to put out the fire and is suitable for ALL fires including electrical. It works in 2 ways, liquid to cool the source, and light foam to smother it. It leaves no harsh residue and is water washable. Fully biodegradeable.

Its not my first choice as that would be CO2, but it sort of fits the bill in other ways.

Has anyone got one / tried one? or Has anybody got any better suggestions etc

Dave

[Davem62]

Hi Dave

bought 2 of these at NEC show in November , long shelf life, Garanteed to work as no propellant and small enough to fit at side of drivers seat or on shelf under glove box , but not cheap compared to small powdered https://firesafetystick.com

Dave

[Bakdraft007]

Hi Dave

bought 2 of these at NEC show in November , long shelf life, Garanteed to work as no propellant and small enough to fit at side of drivers seat or on shelf under glove box , but not cheap compared to small powdered https://firesafetystick.com

Dave

Wow, that looks excellent. I guess the only drawback is that its single use. So if you activate it, it puts the fire out, but then 30 seconds later it flares backup... its then no use. BUT I will get one and as its so small it can be my first line of defence... then I could use the other as a second line.

Also price is not an issue for me.... having spent thousands buying her, the very least I can do is spend some money to protect her.

It was a real sobering event when she caught fire... watching flames appear, but not having anyway to stop them even though they were small to start with, but knowing they were only going to get bigger if you do not put them out was frightening. If I had been in the middle of nowhere... it could easily just have gotten out of hand.

[barkerwilliams]

If it is an engine fire it is not recommended to open the bonnet and let a good supply of oxygen in. I know that in reality you will actually open the bonnet slightly, so just spend a couple of minutes working out where to stand to direct the extinguisher, probably the nearside near the fuel plumbing and fiter with the minimum bonnet opening and with least risk to yourself. It might be that you need a short extension tube on the nozzle to slot through a narrow bonnet gap yet still point upwards to reach a fire.

If you have a plan buried in your mind should you ever need it, the result should be less dramatic and safer.


Alan

[Bakdraft007]

If it is an engine fire it is not recommended to open the bonnet and let a good supply of oxygen in. I know that in reality you will actually open the bonnet slightly, so just spend a couple of minutes working out where to stand to direct the extinguisher, probably the nearside near the fuel plumbing and fiter with the minimum bonnet opening and with least risk to yourself. It might be that you need a short extension tube on the nozzle to slot through a narrow bonnet gap yet still point upwards to reach a fire.

If you have a plan buried in your mind should you ever need it, the result should be less dramatic and safer.


Alan

Thats good advice. In my case the discarnect device is on the battery so its a little bit difficult to get to the battery without fully opening the bonnet, BUT how you open it, and having a plan and extinguisher is all important.

[flying farmer]

When one of my Stags had an engine fire due to a burst fuel pipe a few years ago there was an impressive bang and a foot of flame erupted around the entire edge of the bonnet.

On the basis it was well alight I immediately opened the bonnet fully which let the fire go straight up.

Fortunately i was only about 20 yards from a good sized dry powder fire extinguisher which put out the blaze under the bonnet and on the floor. I had just come back from a shopping trip and had washed the car before putting it back in the garage. If it had gone bang the previous time I started it, it would probably have burned out.

I was very lucky, most of the engine loom was fried along with the gearbox loom and the nearside flexible brake pipe. Paint damage was limited to a palm size patch burnt off part of the inner wing. Since the bonnet hinges past vertical it was away from the flames which were a couple of feet high. The entire V was full of fuel and I think it ignited when it ran over the back of the V onto the hot exhaust.

The dry powder made a hell of a mess and despite trying to wash it out of the engine bay it ate through the fuse box, one of the copper brake pipes and the radiator also needs changing as it is corroding the solder joints, currently it is held together by radweld!

SWMBO bought me several small extinguishers for my birthday so they tend to live on the parcel shelf now! Can't actually remember what type they are.

Neil

[Davem62]

Hi Dave
I seam to remember the gentleman at the show said they were looking into having them fitted under the bonnet in motorsports with the top off the striker button and any flames would automatically ignite the stick but I may have misunderstood.

David

Neil
on one of the demo video’s the beech buggy belonged to the man at the nec and says it won’t damage anything as that’s one thing I asked him having read your post about powder eating away various parts

David

[Bakdraft007]

When one of my Stags had an engine fire due to a burst fuel pipe a few years ago there was an impressive bang and a foot of flame erupted around the entire edge of the bonnet.

On the basis it was well alight I immediately opened the bonnet fully which let the fire go straight up.

Fortunately i was only about 20 yards from a good sized dry powder fire extinguisher which put out the blaze under the bonnet and on the floor. I had just come back from a shopping trip and had washed the car before putting it back in the garage. If it had gone bang the previous time I started it, it would probably have burned out.

I was very lucky, most of the engine loom was fried along with the gearbox loom and the nearside flexible brake pipe. Paint damage was limited to a palm size patch burnt off part of the inner wing. Since the bonnet hinges past vertical it was away from the flames which were a couple of feet high. The entire V was full of fuel and I think it ignited when it ran over the back of the V onto the hot exhaust.

The dry powder made a hell of a mess and despite trying to wash it out of the engine bay it ate through the fuse box, one of the copper brake pipes and the radiator also needs changing as it is corroding the solder joints, currently it is held together by radweld!

SWMBO bought me several small extinguishers for my birthday so they tend to live on the parcel shelf now! Can't actually remember what type they are.

Neil

Wow, I can only feel your sense of panic watching you stag in foot long flames; you have to have a fire to understand the effectit has on you for the future....

[mjheathcote]

I've still got a halon fire extinguisher, and also a solid state 'fire eater'.
In the garage I have several 2kg Co2 extinguishers.

[Goldstar]

Im sure I read that having a halon extinguisher not covered by a specific exemption (military/aviation) is illegal?

[Niallcat]

Halon is illegal as it’s a CFC. there’s a motor sport fire company that do small extinguishers and also built in systems called FEV, fire extinguisher valve company, based in Ford West Sussex. They are involved in F1 down. need to google them. And no connection.

[djtaylor]

I bought three fire sticks too. About it being single use...I would consider that true of most extinguishers, most last less than 15 seconds anyway and you really don't want to part use one and then expect to use it another time.

[Bakdraft007]

I bought three fire sticks too. About it being single use...I would consider that true of most extinguishers, most last less than 15 seconds anyway and you really don't want to part use one and then expect to use it another time.

True but you can part use it on the same fire... ie squirt it for 10 seconds and wait a bit and have some left incae it re-ignites.... or thats what I am thinking...

[djtaylor]

True but you can part use it on the same fire... ie squirt it for 10 seconds and wait a bit and have some left incae it re-ignites.... or thats what I am thinking...

Yep I understand the thinking, so buy two sticks!

I have a bunch of dry powder extinguishers around the house and garage but the conversation I had at the show was compelling (to me). I'm no extinguisher expert but prefer can clump apparently and then it's rather useless. The cost of getting personal extinguishers serviced is pretty much the same as replacement. The fire sticks have a much longer shelf life and have a longer discharge. Videos on YouTube.

As you say, no harm in having both. I may or may not also have a halon extinguisher in the boot, that may or may not work when our if required. There's also a powder that may or may not work.

Just bear in mind that the main one should be in easy reach of the driver, NOT the boot.

I did also have the same suggestion to the fire stick guy about having on installed under the bonnet because the form factor is great.

[SaskStag]

I had an electrical fire after fitting a headlight conversion. Long story, but it was a burnt starter motor cable which was touching the exhaust manifold. Current found its way back to battery through my alternator take off point for that side. Started car, soft tick, then whoosh, orange light appeared under bonnet. I opened bonnet, turned off battery. Yelled for hubby who ran out with the kitchen extinguisher which turned out to be empty. So I grabbed the dog's bucket of drinking water and threw it over the fire. Mess is sorted now, but I understand the psychological effect. I have seriously considered giving up and selling my car, despite all the upgrades and work I've done. Only hubby and car friends have kept me from doing so. I always have carried an extinguisher in the car, but forgot about it at the time!
Stay safe.
Tanya