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Author Topic: Do you keep a fire extinguisher in your car? Post a Reply Back to Topics
RacerGene

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Alabama

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 5:08:09 AM

I think everyone should have one.
REPLIES (newest first)
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Z12
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 7:57:34 PM

No
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muurll
Rookie Author Salt Lake City

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Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 6:20:55 PM

No, I don't.
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Somis1
Champion Author Ventura

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Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 5:13:29 PM

No, and I've only even SEEN a car fire once.....
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dandeeman
Champion Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 4:57:46 PM

NOPE
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jimmy544
Champion Author Boston

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Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 7:59:32 AM

I think everyone should have one too. I have carried them for years since I saw a car burn to a hulk and no one had a fire extinguisher. A friend of mine and two other passersby saved an unconcious and badly injure woman from a car fire because they each had an extinguisher. They used each one in succession while they got the woman out. Each fire extinguisher beat the fire back but could not put it out. The car burned to a hulk and the woman recovered. I will always carry a bigger extinguisher the 10 size and so should you!
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sandy40
Champion Author Nova Scotia

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Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 5:47:29 AM

No.
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RNF
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 5:44:37 AM

No
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bearone2
Champion Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 4:43:57 AM

no
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Titanic1985
Champion Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 4:42:54 AM

Hello Mileena202. You said:

"But the key question is do you have gloves next to the extinguisher? Ever tried opening a hot hood to extinguish a fire without gloves?

And do you practice opening the hood? Do you know which way the latch goes?"

You're making several assumptions that may be misleading. The first is that 911 has been called. Vehicle fires can quickly get out of control if they are fed by gasoline. The second is that the vehicle is turned off. If the fuel is being pumped by an electric fuel pump, you'll never put it out with any fire extinguisher. The third point is the assumption that it is your vehicle (e.g. knowing "which way the latch goes"). The vehicle fires I've been involved in always involved someone else's vehicle, so there was no way to know which way the latch goes or, for that matter, where it was.

The use of non-flammable gloves is valid. I did get my fingers burned on a hood latch trying to get it open. I also cut my lower arm after breaking the glass on the passenger door when the owner locked a burning mini-van and ran away.

I think the three most important things are to call 911, to ask people to stay away from a vehicle (that may also apply to yourself, even if you have a fire extinguisher) and when to quit fighting a fire. These fire extinquishers are only useful at the start of a vehicle fire, not after it becomes fully engulfed. At that point, it should be turned over to the fire department.

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John_Doe
Champion Author Northwest Territories

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Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 12:22:58 AM

no
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ericli3091
Veteran Author Ottawa

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 11:47:55 PM

mo
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wizzo
Champion Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 11:15:49 PM

no
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ricebike
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 11:14:55 PM

no

but in the work vehicle, yes
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Seamus4513
Champion Author Orange County

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 10:56:20 PM

No
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fkftdoc
Champion Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 1:56:51 PM

no
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sandy40
Champion Author Nova Scotia

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 1:31:56 PM

No.
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mileena202
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 12:50:45 PM

Yes.

But the key question is do you have gloves next to the extinguisher? Ever tried opening a hot hood to extinguish a fire without gloves?

And do you practice opening the hood? Do you know which way the latch goes?
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wlotocky
All-Star Author Florida

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 12:08:32 PM

yup
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Titanic1985
Champion Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 11:36:34 AM

Hello RacerGene. This topic has been cover on several occasions before, but it is worth revisiting. Carrying a fire extinguisher is a good idea and was mandatory in my company owned vehicle. It is useful only if you use it as soon as the fire starts. Gasoline fires expand quickly and render the average size extinguisher rather useless. I found that to be true in two car fires I became involved with -- the fires were already melting the plastic and bursting the headlights and windshields. If you carry a fire extinguisher, make sure it is BC rated (for grease and fuel related fires) and that it is certified/tested. That is a fire marshal edict for most commercial properties to include churches on a yearly basis.

Please don't be a hero unless it involves a person's life. I was slightly injured on the last car fire because the individual locked the doors and ran away leaving the mini-van burning in front of a glass fronted store. I had two commercial fire extinguishers from the store and had to break the driver's window to get to the hood release which already melted. Would you believe the lady was angry because I broke her window!! The entire front of the vehicle was fully engulfed after using two fire extinguishers.

Oh yes, on another topic a Gas Buddy put out several fires and never was thanked or financially compensated. The larger units cost a good bit of money to purchase and to refill.

My point is that it is a good idea to carry a fire extinguisher, but dial 911 before you do anything else.
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vando45
Champion Author Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 11:13:19 AM

no
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harley267
Rookie Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 10:08:34 AM

no
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Lilly02
Champion Author Rockford

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 9:20:31 AM

No
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Vin63
Champion Author San Bernardino

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 9:17:59 AM

I have a 20 lbs onboard fire suppressant system on the race car, does that count?
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dandeeman
Champion Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 4:33:17 PM

NOPE
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Nicanite
Champion Author Flint

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 11:08:58 AM

no
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Gazas
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 10:40:05 AM

No.
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psm80134
Champion Author Denver

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 10:00:13 AM

If I routinely participated in auto-cross, I probably would. But for just normal driving? That seems like an awfully big expense that serves very little purpose.
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tweekdakat
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 6:34:26 AM

I don't know
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contiki
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 6:34:03 AM

No never have.....
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RdHogg
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 6:31:53 AM

no
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Jmac2008
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 4:43:09 AM

no
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bearone2
Champion Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 4:39:50 AM

no
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mileena202
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 4:03:41 AM

yes
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BCNU
Champion Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 3:54:45 AM

no
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HOGYLD
Champion Author Vancouver

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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2012 3:00:58 AM

I don't.
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toms1120
Champion Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 6:12:19 PM

no
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2Tall
Champion Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 9:19:34 AM

no
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pacecar68
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 8:02:34 PM

no. it makes sense to have one though.

if the car catches on fire, i am out of there.
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Pede
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 6:46:15 PM

no
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streetcars
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 6:34:03 PM

used 2
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RNF
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 5:55:50 PM

No
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WEPSMAN
Champion Author South Dakota

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 5:34:28 PM

Nope
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watch4you
Champion Author Jacksonville

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 3:50:47 PM

no
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Baron62nd
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 2:38:38 PM

No, if it catches fire I'll let it burn and get another car rather than go through the hassle of having it fixed.
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bluenvoy
Champion Author Nashville

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 12:24:38 PM

No.
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close2broke
All-Star Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 12:14:41 PM

no
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PatAZ
Champion Author Tucson

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 12:12:32 PM

Yes I do.
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mileena202
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 12:00:53 PM

Yes, on my passenger seat; otherwise it rolls around.

Another thing is it is good to have gloves with it, as the hood of your car (most likely place to have fire) will be hot when you open it to extinguish the fire.

[Edited by: mileena202 at 3/18/2012 1:02:13 PM EST]
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yodudebc
Champion Author Vancouver

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 9:24:59 AM

no
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10261970
All-Star Author Sacramento

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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2012 9:18:55 AM

No. But it is a good idea.
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