Fire Extinguisher

[Tom Wesenberg]

Years ago I had my Corvair parked over some tall dry grass and the hot exhaust started the grass on fire. I ran to the kitchen and grabbed the fire extinguisher. I emptied it, and it didn't even put out the 4 foot by 4 foot patch of grass on fire. I then gabbed a broom and finished the job. What I sould have done is just jump in the car and drive it forward out of the grass fire. I've put out some grass fires with very little water. A 2 litter bottle with a 1/8" hole drilled in the cap can be aimed quite easily at the base of the flame and works very well for me.

[Jason in TX]

Thanks Bobpo! Yeah. Having a TV background, I'm always story telling with pictures in mind. I usually try to post here with both information and photos. I think it helps convey the message a little better! Also, when stuff like that happens in my life, I usually think, "I better take a picture of this!"

[1931 flamingo]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Got what I needed at Walmart, $18. Now I'll have peace of mind. This is something I should have done last year, but I'm a procrastinator.
Paul in CT

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Got what I needed at Walmart, $18. Now I'll have peace of mind. This is something I should have done last year, but I'm a procrastinator.
Paul in CT

Paul,
I have several A/B/C type ext that are placed about the garage/cars and that brings piece of mind in case of dreded fire. I have heard many stories and have seen pics of Model A car caused fires (shorted wires/gas leaks/spark=). Fire ext are a comfort to have, but I'm surprised at the number of As that do NOT have a master cut off switch...in case of sizziling wires/gas leaks,etc.. Having the ability to immediately cut off the electricity (I.E. SPARK) entirely to all of the electrical circuits...is almost as important ...to prevent combustion...as an extinguisher is to puting out a flame! One is as important as the other , in my view/experience.

As an example, there is a parts supplier that sells a "clear ruby red" gas hose for Model A/others. This stuff is DANGEROUS to use (quickly crystalizes/cracks) and I've told them so(but they continue to sell it..go figure)! Thanks God, I had the hood off of my '30 roadster and cruising. Notices a pinhole sized stream of gas going straight up about a foot tall and all over the engine and header! Scared the heck right out of me, as I could see the car burning up..in my mind! Made an emergency curb stop AFTER SHUTTING down the master shut off and the ignition switches. To my relief...NO Flame...proveing once again that gasoline will not ignite without a spark...as the gas was evaporating off of a smoking hot header pipe Felt good having the backup abc ext

[1931 flamingo]

Hardtimes: I already have a master cut off switch under driver's seat and an electric fuel shut off. First things I did.
paul in CT

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I carry one of the aforementioned Kidde units in my "A". I've never had to use one on my car (luckily). But carried a fancy Chrome one between the seats in a '40 Chevy street rod I had (in a past life i.e. before bitten by the Model "A" bug) which I threw to a guy two cars down when his high dollar dual quad hemi powered Willys started shooting 1' foot flames in the air. It put out the fire and saved a whole bunch of closely parked cars. I've never been without one since.

[Kurt in NJ]

I have a halon in the car, halon in the kitchen, 30 lb co2 next to the lift, + a 5lb co2 for quick squirts --refill when near empty, and 10-20 lb dry chemical under the light switches in each room in the shop ---it saves time looking for the extinguisher --you are always using the light switches and you know where they are in a panic---

[josh1331]

Originally Posted by Bob-A

Paul,

I get my fire extingushers at Wal-Mart in the Marine/boater section. They are made by "Kidde" and are aluminum bodied. Rated at 10-B:C (what ever that means?) and can be used on liquid or electrical fires. They are approx. 14" long & 3" in diameter. It weights around 4 lbs. and is my best buddy when I'm driving one of my cars: i.e. right beside me ready to rock n' roll if needed!

When I was in a local antique car club back in my high school days. One of our members lost a unique (and very expensive) Rolls Royce to a fire.
The guy stated he could have saved the car if he only had had a fire extingusher!

They are the first thing I get for a car when I buy one.

Bob-A

wHEN YOU REFER TO LIQUID IS THAT INCLUDING GASOLINE?

[sellerby]

Jason's experience also happened to me 2 months ago, but fortunately the smoldering wires behind the dash didn't spread to other more tender areas. I didn't have time to use the extinguisher I keep under my seat. I'm wondering how many of you have had wiring fry between the D box and the instrument panel. I simply had to replace the wire loom and ammeter which also got fried. The smoke from the smoldering wire was about the worst I've ever experienced. I read recently that auto wires are designed to provide one smoke, which is a telltale of a problem requiring immediate attention.

[ctlikon0712]

Last year at work, I work at the Kennedy Space Center, I took a fire fighting familiarization class and the instructor was adamant about the respatory dangers of dry chemicals. I took this article from the listed web site.

http://www.firesupplydepot.com/faqs.html

Is there any health risk in using the Fire Extinguisher?

Answer - Dry Powder Extinguisher
Yes - Dry Powder Chemical extinguishers have been known to cause serious respiratory problems after use. You must avoid inhaling Dry Powder Chemicals. Avoid getting Dry Powder Chemical into your eyes, especially if you wear contact lenses. Dry Powder Chemicals can cause serious skin irritation. You can't control the application of Dry Powder Chemicals so caution should be taken when used around children or pets.

[Kevin in NJ]

All this talk of extinguishers and not talk about how they work and how to use them.

Halon is great, no mess. BUT it is does not put out all fires. It can only take away the oxygen. If you have a constant fuel source and constant ignition source the Halon is not going to do the job. Consider leaves and a blowing wind. The halon will take away the flame, but not the heat. The wind can bring the embers up to temp for more flame.

CO2 is the same idea.

Dry chem smothers the fire. Messy, but longer lasting.

I can remember a motorhome we had. It burned up the tranny going to Hershey and on the way home the field rebuild failed to clear all the crap from the converter. The tranny would move the motorhome and trailer, but at every stop you had to JUMP out and blast the tranny fluid that caught fire as soon as it hit the air as it squirted out at a stop. The drill was quick and simple. Stop, open door jump out on the ground and a quick short blast of Halon and the flame went out. One time I got out and there was a bit of a breeze and it did not go out so quick, a hairy half second of flame! Halon is great, but it has limits!!!

[Bob-A]

josh1331,

Yes, it covers gas too.

Bob-A

[A-Jay]

Just a thought, don't laugh There is a new type of fire extinquisher that is much easier to transport. It is a spray can that you can get at Wal-mart TUNDRA by First Alert. I know what your thinking, BUT take a look next time your there if you dont like it you can by the tradional type there also. The Tundra has a good shelve life, I bought one good till 2015. A can will spray about four times longer than a large extinguisher, good for grease(kitchen maybe) Fabric/wood and electric fires. The can is very easy to store like a spray can with a small cap no neck or valve to break off. I don't think I would only want the Tundra in my house or car but I would try it first in fire situation, they say its easy to clean up. They are about 12-15 dollars.As you see from the the pictures dry chem make quite a mess.

[flatheadernie]

None of the posts have mentioned dry chem versions need to be stored upright or used ONLY after selting the contents firmly to the bottom of container ( bounce it hard on bottom) otherwise all the pressure will vent quickly leaving most of the powder inside. Learned tht one the hardway, one small puff and the T bird melted! ernie n tx