ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Car fire

Mike,

Good idea, but around here closing the other side of a divided highway would most likely result in you and your crew being hauled away in cuffs by the state police.
Don

Wow, Don! Around here in DC, even a flat tire on the shoulder justifies a lane closure.

Our problem in these parts is that even a car that's simply overheating is reported by the traffic reporters as a "car fire", causing everyone to go into panic rubber-necking mode. Full fire/rescue response usually follows, what a total waste of valuable resources. Hence, our fabulous traffic up and down I-95.

That's the beltway, not downtown

IN Boston, We "RUBBER NECK" (OF COURSE) but we drive around the body and flip the bird (and curse) to th jack a** who had the nerve to screw up our commute.
We make sure to toot our horn so they know we're talking to them.

Wow,
I've never seen a gas tank go off like that before and I've assisted to extinguish more than a few car fires.
It makes me wonder if the gas tank didn't have a bad weld on it as gas tank ruptures are pretty rare.
All the more reason to park your fire engine well back from a burning car.
Just a note about fire extinguishers, every vehicle and home should have one, as John mentioned above, all fires start small, bear in mind that fire extinguishers have a pretty limited output time, measured in seconds, not minutes, any attack on a fire needs to be quick and effective from the start.

How many people really know how to use a fire extinguisher properly even if they had one available? Most people I know would aim at the flame instead of the base of the fire where the problem is.

The government agency I work for has put small 2 1/2 ABC extinguishers in the company vehicles for the 30 years I have been there but there have never been any training courses on how to use one properly. I take a car out once once or twice a month for an hour or two but we have on call people taking a vehicle home every night.

My neighbour on the other hand had to go on a manditory course on how to use one before they let him drive a company vehicle. Even our fire department traing devision does not promote traning and they have a half million dollar training center for this.

stand 6-8 feet back and aim at the base of the fire,Empty the extiguisher.
The distance is crucial, too close and the 300-800PSI will assuredly blow the fire to a new location, then your in deep doo-doo.

ABC is best, makes a bit of a mess,co2 not recommended for electric fires, It is very conductive.

CO2 is the original "electric fire" extinguisher. I suspect you were thinking of something else.

Nope. Pressurised liquid and very conductive.
And at 800 PSI nominal (in the hand held), can creat some static as well. thats why when inspected you make sure there is continuity between the tank and that plastic handle (that has a bond wire in it).

=CO2 extinguishers have an advantage over dry chemical extinguishers since they don't leave a harmful residue - a good choice for an electrical fire on a computer or other favorite electronic device such as a stereo or TV.=

True, but in a live switch gear. No.