Fire Extinguisher / Fire Blanket

[MalC Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close MalC]

Wondering if members recommend small fire extinguisher and or fire blanket in the vehicle and where easily mounted
Thanks
regards
Mal

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

While a lot of us have them, the small extinguishers are useless for underbody fires, as are fire blankets. The small ones dont work on an acute angle. That aside watch the type of extinguisher you get, some are harsh on wiring if you get the fire out quick. I have 2 of the wrong sort in my car. They will stay there until I get around to getting the right ones. I will be stuck if the fire is under the car from dry material.

There are some existing threads with more details so search using google.

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

As I've posted before, just watch for the type of extinguisher you get:

ABE extinguishers contain a powder that on contact with moisture, turns into Phosphoric Acid, which corrodes all metal, and wiring and switches...Bye bye to your car's electronics...

BE extinguishers contain a powder that is basically Sodium Bicarbonate, which doesn't corrode anything.

Almost all extinguishers you see are ABE... Search hard (esp in Marine stores) and you will find a BE type.

Note:

1. BE types are NOT rated for grass/paper fires. They only work on flammable liquid/electrical fires.
2. I'm not saying don't have an extinguisher at all, just be aware of what they contain.
3. The small 1kg ones last about 10 seconds, and unless it is a small fire, do not put it out! So: take twox1kg at least.

All the best!

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I attended a boating fire safety session with some mates last month at http://bmys.com.au/, I even got to put a fire out ;D

Lessons learnt:
A 1kg fire extinguisher is pretty useless in novice hands
It is better to have one big fire extinguisher than two small ones
A fire blanket is good to smother a small fire before it becomes a big fire
You should ensure you shake your fire extinguisher often to prevent the powder settling
Even a small fire is hot!

[mickmac_42 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mickmac_42]

While I have never had a fire under my car, I have set fire to a grass paddock from smoldering grass caught underneath the car. I'd only travelled about 100m before I saw the smoke in the rear view mirror. The fire had spread to about 2m diameter by the time I turned around and drove back. My mate and I hit it with the 2 dry powder extinguishers we had on board and it was only enough to get half way around the ring of fire. Thankfully the QFRS were only minutes away and the fire was contained to about a hectare of open grass and didn't get into the scrub.

I'm not suggesting that the small fire extinguishers are useless. If the fire had been confined to a portion of the underbody of the car then they may have done the job.

As for the concern that some dry powders may be corrosive, I would prefer to use them and be able to drive a couple of hundred kilometers to civilization where I would leave the car for my insurance company to sort out, rather than be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a useless smoking wreck (and my wife yelling at me).

Mike

[mickmac_42 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mickmac_42]

To answer the OP, I Think any fire extinguisher is better than none. I keep one near the drivers seat and one in the back. I saw one of the guys has mounted an extinguisher to his fold down table which I think is brilliant (I don't have drawers). I don't see any reason not to take a fire blanket but I'm struggling to think of when you might use it.

Mike

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I don't see any reason not to take a fire blanket but I'm struggling to think of when you might use it.

Cooking lunch maybe something starts to burn, smothering a grass fire as mentioned above, you just never know.

A good tip for under vehicle grass fires is to keep a garden sprayer handy.

[Yota Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Yota]

To answer the OP, I Think any fire extinguisher is better than none. I keep one near the drivers seat and one in the back. I saw one of the guys has mounted an extinguisher to his fold down table which I think is brilliant (I don't have drawers). I don't see any reason not to take a fire blanket but I'm struggling to think of when you might use it.

Mike

Fire blankets are good if someones clothing catchs alight. Wrap them in the fire blanket and get them to roll around on the ground, smothering the fire. I always keep one in the camper, very cheap insurance, but remeber they are single use.

when buying a BE extinguisher remember electricity does not burn, the E means it is safe on electricity. Most electrical fires will in fact be an A class fire, combustable material. I stongly recomend the ABE type, get you and your family home safe and let the insurance company worry about the corrosion.
two 1kg or 1.5 kg ABE extinguishers will be the best bet for most private cars. If someone can find a place to mount a 4.5kg extinguisher that is out of the way but acesible and doesnt look out of place in my prado, than let me know.

I work for a large fire protection company and am a voluteer firefighter of 14 years, if I thought i needed to carry more than that I would.

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

If the insurance company finds that a fire has been put out in your car with an ABE extinguisher, chances are it will be classed a write-off anyway...

[pratibhasalunke Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pratibhasalunke]

Extensive precautions to prevent fires should be taken not just in homes and industries. Such measures should also be taken while on the go and this is the reason why there are Car fire blankets. These have been designed in a manner so that oxygen cannot pass through them and so fire cannot spread further. Read more - Fire blanket