I'm not travelling at the moment. But when I did, I had one in the car and one in the caravan.
I was sitting outside on a balmy evening, 3 nights ago, when I hear my neighbours come home. Then I hear "fire"! Then I hear "The car is on fire".
So I ran. Grabbed a fire extinguisher and torch (was dark). The neighbours car was alight under the bonnet.
Several extinguishers didn't fix it, due to the size of it and the fact we could not get the bonnet open. The RFS did fix it, after ripping open the bonnet with bars. However, it helped keep the fire at bay. The extinguisher was over 4 years old. I have newer in my car and van. I only kept that extinguisher as it seemed a shame to chuck it to land fill. From now on I will keep replacing and keep the old. I would have had to unlock the car, then the caravan to get the others.
Oh, and I did shake it well on the run to the neighbours!
I think the bigger issue is that a dry chemical powder extinguisher is very likely the most unsuitable unit for that type of fire.
the most suitable would be a foam extinguisher but they are bulky and heavy.
the next most suitable type probably a Co2 but they are heavy and very short duration.
the fact that several extinguishers did not fix it tells the story
I know of no solution to the problem you have raised
someone with much more experience of firefighting may come along and be of more assistance
Frank
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Avagreatday.
Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
I have a CO2 2 kg at back of centre consul in car and a 2 kg powder in caravan.
I'm trying to get another CO2 but hard to get round here
I used my last one on a holden that kissed a tree on Yeppoon rd. yrs ago.
Driver calked while I was getting his missus out as engine bay broke into flames.
Instant out with those CO2 ones. (ex Offshore yacht.)
They perfect for electrical/fuel fires. Well worth the extra
specially when you look at your lives and cost of things we drive around.
Powder ones are just for insurance purposes. Pretty much useless.
Without being able to open the bonnet, to get at the base of the flame I do not think that any hand held fire extinguisher/s, would have put out that fire.
As KFT has said, the best solution, if it was available, (back in the day, normally on the town, fire engine), is a foam retardant. Known as AFFF or Aqueous film forming foam, or Aqueous fire fighting foam, depending on where you live. This would have covered the complete car, from roof to ground, to deprive the flame of oxygen. Back in the day, this use to be very expensive, and was only to be used on petroleum fires
With the bonnet open, and access to the base of the flame/s, a dry powder fire extinguisher, would have had a good chance of containing the fire. Unless the flame is like a Roman candle, the heat would have made the dry powder molecules join together, to form a flexible type blanket, to deprave the fire of oxygen. Or words to that effect
The reason for having a use by date on a dry powder fire extinguisher, is that it is possible for the powder to coagulate, and jam up in the nozzle. Once that happens, no amount of shaking will free the jammed powder, due to the pressure behind it
I am not an expert, but back in the day, when I was playing in the employment playground I also went for a ride with the Volunteer Fire Brigade.
One of the rides was recharging the fire extinguishers. We use to put any dry powder, still in the extinguisher through a very fine sieve. After weighing the correct amount of powder, we would replace it. We would then recharge the extinguisher to the correct pressure
Ive used the small RV supplied dry powder extinguishers on both gas and petrol fires. Obviously no use for large fires, but if used correctly (aim at the base of the fire - not the flames as most people do) its amazing what these little versatile units will put out.
Cheap as chips nowdays - Aldi sell them and a fire blanket combo for about $30 (reckon Ive got about 4 blankets now lol). Its cheaper to buy replacement smaller extinguishers than get them now.
CO2 is great, but you need a good sized one to be effective - usually too big to carry in a standard car or RV
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
Dry chem in an extinguisher is a very versatile agent for putting out small fires, remember they are just "first aid" for fires until the local brigade arrives. Dry chem makes a bloody mess in enclosed spaces but is portable, usually close by & one person operation. Down side is short penetration, short duration & unless checked regularly can be unreliable.
At 20-30 bucks each it's cheap to have a few on board, we have 1 in each car & 4 in the motor home.
AFFF (fire fighting foam) is now subject to the PFOS debate as a pollutant to the environment, my whole family is now subject to testing as my 3 boys lived & grew up at a regional fire station that was a main storage area for foam agents & training with the stuff. The things we learn after the event ??
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The government cannot give anything to anybody that the Government does not first take from somebody else.
Steam is a great way to extinguishing fire if it's not electrical fire , If you can get some water into the engine compartment the water will turn into steam , If you have a garden hose apply the water into the grill also if you have access to the cabin of the car pop the bonnet catch which will allow you to feed more water into the engine bay , If you have direct access to a fire Dry powder is still the best . Remember the triangle heat , fuel and oxygen remove anyone and fire goes out , Fuel is there till it's burnt out , Heat when hit with a cooling agent will extinguisher the fire temporally and will flare up again because you still have heat ,fuel and Oxygen , Dry powder put a coat over the fire stoping the Oxygen from getting to the heat and fuel , Dry powder make a mess but can still have something to clean up . AFFF has been band for years it is what has caused a lot of the problems at Oakey Army base in Queensland contaminated water streams
Thank you for the refresher course in fire extinguishers and why.
As a fuel tanker driver at one stage of my working life I knew all this and probably more, then next 8 years as a driver pulling frig vans, I do remember a couple of refresh fire courses in driver training but my last 8 years delivering steel products before retirment none and now retired for 3 years no refresh fire courses.
So as the old saying goes use it or lose it and I did.
As we all know about the fire triangle, in the case mentioned, could not get to the seat of the fire so removing the fuel was not possible and removing oxygen not possible so in this case the best thing is to keep the temp down until the fire brigade arrive. Best way to do this is with copious quantities of water
We did have water going too! The main issue was the electronic hood not opening. Personally I will stick to my guns and keep old ones, as it was working but the access was impossible I have since googled how to open a hood in this situation, although my bonnet release is thankfully manual.
So I have read all the comments. Oh, I had the wrong fire extinguisher! Blah, blah, blah. Read an article today about how much the Grey Nomads whinge.
I had a general fire extinguisher that would cover for a fire in my caravan and car. What do all you experts carry in your caravans and cars? And do you have a massive extinguisher for your homes?
I suspect not. Cut me some slack here. I was a member of CFA, so I'm not stupid. And I'm still in my 40's, not one of the Grey Nomad whingers. And the point is, thanks to me and my neighbour, the car did not explode, before the RFS got there. It takes a ballsy woman to crawl under the fire of the car and hit it from underneath.
I totally knew about the bonnet and vacuum. I was just trying to offer a piece of advice to those that don't know, about fire extinguishers. But the control freaks just had to take a hold
I hope they all reply to my question of the extinguisher that they use.
-- Edited by Triple333 on Sunday 14th of August 2016 08:34:58 PM
Sally - no-one was suggesting what you did was wrong - but when you post a new topic you will always have comments made by others. If we had just ignored your post I would have felt aggrieved and snubbed by others on GN's. Ive had a quick re-read of everyones comments and no-one is having a shot at you - rather just commenting on their experiences, experience and ideas.
Oh and we all sincerely thank you for having been in the CFA - the volunteer firies do a fantastic job !!!
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
So I have read all the comments. Oh, I had the wrong fire extinguisher! Blah, blah, blah. Read an article today about how much the Grey Nomads whinge.
I had a general fire extinguisher that would cover for a fire in my caravan and car. What do all you experts carry in your caravans and cars? And do you have a massive extinguisher for your homes?
I suspect not. Cut me some slack here. I was a member of CFA, so I'm not stupid. And I'm still in my 40's, not one of the Grey Nomad whingers. And the point is, thanks to me and my neighbour, the car did not explode, before the RFS got there. It takes a ballsy woman to crawl under the fire of the car and hit it from underneath.
I totally knew about the bonnet and vacuum. I was just trying to offer a piece of advice to those that don't know, about fire extinguishers. But the control freaks just had to take a hold
I hope they all reply to my question of the extinguisher that they use.
-- Edited by Triple333 on Sunday 14th of August 2016 08:34:58 PM
Hello Triple333
Firstly no disrespect is intended, and none has been received
My interpretation, so I could be wrong, is that you offered some information about keeping old fire extinguishers, as spares, instead of throwing them away
Other posters gave their opinions, as well as some information
The topic then changed a little bit towards the general nature of fire extinguishers
I personally learned from this topic, that AFFF had become a toxic chemical, and that AFFF has now been banned, so I take this opportunity to thank both The Doo crew and brickies for that info
I was unaware that anyone was actually condemning, other posters actions, or that control freaks had taken over the post.
To answer you recent question about what do I carry in my caravan and car
Caravan - I have a 1 Kg dry powder fire extinguisher Car - I do not have a fire extinguisher, and never have Motorhome - I have a 1 Kg dry powder fire extinguisher
Also as Bruce and Bev have already said, thank you for being a volunteer fiery, some of us are now too old to participate
Depends where you live yellow pages or google should point you in the right direction , In Queensland fire service do not do recharge , And depend on the size of the extinguisher it can be cheaper to buy a new one .
I have since googled how to open a hood in this situation, although my bonnet release is thankfully manual.
