Fire Extinguisher - What type & size?

[Bronco638]

Hey All,
One of the required pieces of trail equipment is a fire extinguisher. My wife's business is having their extinguishers checked and recharged and I can get a good deal while they're on site. But, I don't want to buy one that's the wrong type or too small.

What does everyone carry while 'wheeling? (esp. on Explorer4x4.com sactioned rides)?

TIA - Dave.

 

[flyboyerau]

Well, here's the skinny on fire extinguishers. Probably in your wife's business, the extinguishers are all "ABC" dry chemical extinguishers. These work great on ash producing, flammable liquid, and some electrcal fires. The only drawback is that they are terribly corrosive if used on aluminum. But ABC extinguiushers are also cheap. Being in the aviation business, once an ABC extinguisher is lit off on a burning aircraft, it renders that aircraft almost unusable due to the large amount of aluminum in the aircraft. Inshead, we use HALOTRON or HALON extinguishers. They are considerably more expensive, but they do not corrode. The best part is if there is an electrical fire, they will only starve the fire of oxygen and not gunk up everything like an ABC extinguisher will. There is also a "BC" extinguisher. That is also not corrosive. All that a BC extinguisher is is a bottle of Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda). If I had an extinguisher in my Explorer, I would choose either a HALON/HALOTRON or a "BC" extinguisher. If you have any more questions, then don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Bronco638]

OK, thanks for the feedback.

I read on the internet that Halon extinguishers have a relatively short range, 3 to 8 feet. I'm not so sure I want to be that close to a burning SUV on the trail. Also, doesn't Halon become chemically altered when exposed to fire, changing to a toxic gas (like Mustard Gas)?

What about CO2 extinguishers? I'm not so sure I want to be shooting dry chemical all over my (or someone else's) truck (major mess!).

 

[Ru Dawg]

I'm not so sure I want to be shooting dry chemical all over my (or someone else's) truck (major mess!).

I don't think that matters once burning metal is involved!

CO2 is corrosive as well, esp on electrical components...

Whatever you use will have some adverse affect, but the goal is to get the fire out!

 

[flyboyerau]

Yes, the range on Halon isn't very good, but how involved are you going to let this fire get? 8 feet is a long way to stand away from a fire and adequately knock it down. Halon also does become toxic, but the length of time of exposure is inadequate to have any adverse effects on your body unless you let it loose in an enclosed space (inside of a car) and then sit in there and sniff it for a good while. Dry chemical should be a last resort firstly; because of the mess it makes, and secondly; because it will corrode the hell out of any aluminum engine or acessory parts.

 

[flyboyerau]

I don't think that matters once burning metal is involved!

CO2 is corrosive as well, esp on electrical components...

Whatever you use will have some adverse affect, but the goal is to get the fire out!

It does matter because if the fire is controllable and extinguised with dry chemical, then all the parts that were aluminum that were not damaged by fire, will be damaged by the subsiquent corrosion caused by the dry chemical. Which in turn means that the wallet will get smaller. BAD JUJU

 

[Bronco638]

I realize the issue at hand is to get the fire extinguished but, if caught early enough, to also minimize the amount of damage (from either fire or chemical). If the chemical change for Halon to toxic gas is an issue only in an enclosed space then that's a good alternative (to dry chemical).

What about CO2?

And, what size extinguisher is suggested?

I'm thinking 2 lbs. would be good for the kitchen but something bigger might be nice on the trail.

D.

 

[XplorerKid]

i carry a 10lb ABC with me.......

 

[flyboyerau]

CO2 would work too, but Halon is more effective.

 

[jgilbs]

use an ABC type. I carry a 15lb ABC Kiddie Fire extinguisher. DO NOT use the mounting bracket it comes with - its too flimsy. i bought their seperate bracket and installed it(with adequate backing behind the trim so it would stay put) and it works and looks great.

 

[Ru Dawg]

Dave, have you ever had to put out a fire before?
I've never been involve with a burning house or anything, but I have been involve in some decent sized electrical fires when I served in the Navy on submarines, and we had plenty of live fire training.
For one thing, no matter what type & size bottle you carry, you will have to be pretty close to 3-8 feet from the truck to put a small fire out. If the fire is bad enough that you can't get within 8 feet, then the fire is already too out of control for a bottle to put it out.
I think of it like this, the point is to get to the fire quickly while it is small & get it out! If you have a fire under the hood, you're going to need to get close enough to pop the hood.
I've been at close range to an electrical cabinet that was on fire inside. I was about a foot away. I had to loosen all bolts holding the door & remove the door while the guy next to me shot CO2 into the cabinet. It's hot. It's smokey. It's scarey. But it has to be done.
It amazed me how quick the fire went out with a couple blasts!(that's the point I'm trying to make)

I know I'm rambling, but I'm bored right now at work and killing time!

 

[Bronco638]

No, thank God, I haven't had to experience that. And, to be honest, I hope I never do. However, like a good Boy Scout, I want to be prepared for the possibility and have the correct piece of equipment on-hand (not only for my truck but someone else's, too). So, it appears that a Halon or CO2 extinguisher in 10 or 15 lb bottle would be best. Perhaps installing an on-board fire system would be an idea as well.....hmmm......there's lots of vacant space under the rear seat (for the bottle)..............

 

[Ru Dawg]

Yeah man.....FIRE BAD!!!
I hope you never do either...and I wasn't asking in a bad way, just curious for experience purposes...
I never dealt with and auto fire, and I would imagine the only vehicle fire you're gonna fight is under the hood....fire near the gas tank and I'd start running!

Anybody here ever witness or experience a fire on the trail?
Is it usually caused by a roll-over on the trail somehow?
Rocks+Metal=Sparks?

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

I have a marine 10ABC extinugisher. Bought it at West Marine.

 

[ld50]

Anybody here ever witness or experience a fire on the trail?

I did, it was a couple guys trying to prime their older carbeurated blazer with gas. I just happened to be there when it lit up. The guy had a container of gas that he dropped when it started, causing quite a show. Never try starting an engine whilst pouring gas in the carb, wait till you`re out of the way, then crank.

I just carry a small ABC dry chem, not sure how any pounds but it`s about the size of the average long thermos, or maybe 2 and 3/4 stacked beer cans, if that`s what you drink.

After I took a picture (well I had the camera right there) I ran up and put the fire out very quickly, those little extinguishers really hold alot of stuff, I only used 1/2 of it, and the fire was in the engine and on the ground underneath.

I don`t think you need a big one, and the odds of actually using it are pretty slim to be carrying around a huge one.

Just tried finding the pic I posted on here when it happened, lol, I can`t believe how many threads I`m in...

 

[Bronco638]

Well, my wife just called.

The 9 lb. Halon is $211 and the 9 lb. CO2 is $144.

I think I'll hold off for now. I can get a nice Halon in-car fire system for about the same as the 9 lb. Halon extinguisher.

Xmas is coming..............

 

[Ru Dawg]

That's a great example Jim! That sounds like the capacity of a fire I'd expect one to have to put out on the trail....if any!

Anybody experience a fire due to rollover or trail damage?

 

[ld50]

Here`s a couple picture examples, the first was the one I put out for these guys.

The second was a friend of mine who develeoped a fuel leak under the hood, at the fuel rail somewhere I guess. He always carried a camera with him, but a 20 dollar fire extinguisher would have had that fire out in a jiffy. His truck was a total loss as a result, there was nothing he could do. He started smelling gas as he was driving, and as soon as he stopped to have a look...whooomph.
It was after that that I got my extinguisher, if it happened to him...

 

[Brock94]

I have an ABC as well, but I'd never heard about the corrosiveness before. I assume the corrosion takes some time though-- couldn't you just wash everything off really well?

 

[flyboyerau]

No way man. The corrosion is the same basic thing as rust. Oxygen molecules bond with the Aluminum. It normally happens slowly, but when heat is added, aka FIRE, it acts as a catylist to speed up the chemical reaction. You can't just wash it off.