Fire

[harry]

Can I share this with you. Last September I drove down the road from my house, then realised I forgot something so I returned home while I was getting out I noticed liquid running down the wing of my jeep, I thought it was water, opened then bonnet. Petrol dripping on the exhaust pipe the WHOSH it burst into flames. I had a 1 litre extinguisher onboard, it ran out half way though. I had a biggger one indoors that finished the job. It burnt for under a minute but everything plastic burn. All wires dizzy brake resiviour ht leads battery etc. ins paid out agreed value write off and gave me a cat N. All repaired now. Now my message to you, you never want to be standing watching your car burn. GET A 2 ltr FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I now have 2. £25 each.

[Goldstar]

Excellent advice. Also know where they are. Sounds simple but you don’t want to be flapping about looking for them in an emergency.

hope nobody was hurt Harry.

[APS]

If it’s a petrol fire I would stand well back and let it burn. It is definitely not safe to tackle a fire of that type. It’s just a car, granted your pride and joy, but it’s insured and can be replaced.

I would consider yourself very lucky you managed to extinguish the fire that time and without personal injury. Luck might not be with you next time. I doubt you will get praised by the fire service. Sorry for my negative view but I think it is bad advice to even contemplate tackling a petrol fire. Maybe a fire of another type, but not a petrol one. Just my two cents worth.

[jbuckl]

+++10.
keep a couple of c02 extinguishers in the car

[Jeff]

Well done Harry for having a go!

Looks like someone's been watching too many Yanky films expecting the car to explode, which by the way they don't! Unless they are full of explosives and driving off a cliff.

As long as you are in a safe position and upwind, there is nothing wrong with attacking a fire with the correct extinguisher, even water, I know, I did it long enough-professionally. I would always praise somebody for having a go, as long as they didn't put themselves in harms way.

Nothing worse than just standing there doing nothing, watching your pride and joy get destroyed before your eyes.

Just my two pennies worth.

[APS]

Jeff you say you tackled fires professionally for long enough but you advise even using water on a class B fire !

I took Harry's view that petrol dripping on his exhaust went woosh into flames. That is not me watching too many yanky films.

Have you ever come across any one who came off on the wrong end of tackling a fire ?

if a small fire and it is safe to tackle it and you are confident to overcome it, then fine, otherwise I would say let it burn and burn it good. that's what insurance is for.

[Jeff]

Put 99% car fires out with just water from the tank on the appliance, some proved difficult, especially when unleaded was introduced and thank fully we were issued with AFFF.

When you say class B fires, you are possibly thinking containers with fuel, which you would then need a blanket of some sort to starve it of oxygen, but a dripping petrol fire and as stated, plastics, water is fine.

Having said that, a good fog or water spray will still attack burning fuel as to also cools which is a very important factor.

Never, ever put water in hot oil as a 'Bleve' will occur.

Of course I have had men come off worse tackling a fire; I committed 4 men into a 10 storey building with top floor flat alight, all 4 came out injured, one seriously so, he had to retire from the job. I myself narrowly escaped death from an exploding acetylene cylinder, which again injured one of my men so much he had to take early retirement.

Dangerous job fire fighting!

[APS]

Good on you Jeff. I have nothing but praise for our emergency services and fire fighting is full of risks and dangers. Unless just a small fire a job best left to the professionals.

[harry]

Well anyway it went out in 20 seconds, Would have been under 10 seconds if I had a 2 ltr on board as the 1 ltr ran out, had to use a 2 nd one, think it was foam, and no one got hurt. I suppose it’s down to the individual to read all comments and choose if the time comes. But if you don’t carry one you can’t choose.