Fire Extinguishers

[Dirty_Jeeper]

Who has one? What type? What size? Mounted where? Have you used one on a vehicle fire?

A recent thread on the NAXJA forum prompted me to finally get my extinguishers in place. I'd been carrying one small one but the thread got me to upgrade.

A rig lost a rear u joint and the drive shaft caught and tore the fuel line open which spewed fuel on the exhaust pipe and muffler igniting the fuel. The owner had an extinguisher but was unable to get it out in time. The rig burned to the ground.

If one 2.5 pound extinguisher is good enough then double or more is better right? Over kill maybe. I hope to never find out. On that note I installed two commercial grade 5 pound ABC extinguishers in my XJ. One near the center console within arms reach and the other in the rear cargo area on the passenger side. Then I installed another between the door and drivers seat of the TJ.

Now that they are installed I hope to never need to use them!

 

[Errant]

I think we had a poll on extinguishers fairly recently...

Here ya go!

 

[AxeAngel]

Standard size auto/marine extinguisher purchased from lowes.

Unless you get there as soon as it happens, a fire extinguisher does little. I was out with the gf past weekend and watched a dodge ram burn in under 3 minutes. I was in our convertible, so couldn't help. By the time he got off the phone with 911 there was little left to burn. Engine compartment, cab compartment, all gone.

-Sam

 

[DEEZLPWR]

i have 2 2.5 lb units. they are each mounted on the suicide doors of my extended cab ram2500. they are right behind your head and are visible and easy access.

On the trail once my friends rig caught fire from electrical wire shorting, i had fire extinguisher in hand faster than my truck stopped and was running to his rig. never go anywhere without 2! always have a backup.

i think mine are A,B,C or A,B units. i got them at walmart. most big places carry them, $20 a bottle will save thousands on your rig. should be the first thing you have onboard.

 

[jcbrandon]

I got some very good advice on fire extinguishers in this thread:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16679

 

[chasespeed]

DOT mandates I keep a 18# ABC in my service truck.

I keep one 18#'er in the back of my truck, and one in the cab of mine(my POV).....

I have 3 2.5s in my boat(space limits), one at the help, one back by the engine, and one in the cuddy.

Chase

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Amerex Model B402 5# ABC, rated 3A:40B:C, in each vehicle and in several places around the homestead (along with others).

The pickups also have an Amerex Model A411 20# ABC rated 20A:120B:C, and a 2.5 gallon PW extinguisher --- plus a shovel, ax, Pulaski.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Who has one? What type? What size? Mounted where? Have you used one on a vehicle fire?

Me!:snorkel:

2.5# auto style

I mount mine so they can be grabbed from the driver seat while belted in.

A lot of the events I run require this. The XJ's is mounted on the back of the center console, and the CJ's is mounted on the roll cage 'ceiling' between the driver/pass seats.

Yep, used mine on a semi truck a few weeks ago. It blew a seal on the drive axle, and the gear oil and tire were burning. (reason I started the poll Errant linked/mentioned)

I like the 'have 2' idea.

 

[Wyowanderer]

Twenty pounder in the cab behind the passenger seat, and a ten pounder in the camper next to the door. Checked yearly, and turned over monthly to keep the powder from compacting.

 

[ol' scott]

Keep a 10# strapped onto the rear floorboard of my truck and two 5# in the bed under the shell.

Used the 10# to put out a car fire last month at a gas station. A woman's car caught fire and when she decided to pull over it was at a gas station right next to the propane tanks :Wow1:

Second car fire I've extinguished and never a thanks from the fire department when they showed up.

 

[rezdiver]

I use the Ansul military type ABC with the nitrogen charge canister in it. very durable, lasts a lifetime, does not need to be hydrotested as the extinguisher is only charged when you press the lever and pop the nitrogen canister inside. this way you can keep it in the sun all day and not worry if you are driving with the top off.
only issue is when you do use it it costs about 20-25 dollars more to charge it on top of the charge for the price of the nitrogen canister.

 

[01tundra]

I'm running a 2.5 lb. Halon (H3r MaxOut) mounted on my cage inside with a Poly Performance quick release mount and a 5 lb. ABC mounted on my cage inside (both within arms reach of either front seat occupant), and a 2.5 lb. ABC mounted with quick fist clamps out in the bed -


http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/H3R-MaxOut-Fire-Extinguisher-p-484.html


http://www.polyperformance.com/shop...-Release-Fire-Extinguisher-Mount-p-20655.html


http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=387

 

[chasespeed]

I use the Ansul military type ABC with the nitrogen charge canister in it. very durable, lasts a lifetime, does not need to be hydrotested as the extinguisher is only charged when you press the lever and pop the nitrogen canister inside. this way you can keep it in the sun all day and not worry if you are driving with the top off.
only issue is when you do use it it costs about 20-25 dollars more to charge it on top of the charge for the price of the nitrogen canister.

If that is PKP(Potassium BiCarbonate), try NOT to use it on an electrical fire if you can.... it WILL degrade the wiring, and other electrical components. IIRC, its at least 4x more effective on an energized electrical fire, but, will cause issues with electrical stuff. Though, in most cases, that'll be the least of your worries.

 

[HenryJ]

...Second car fire I've extinguished and never a thanks from the fire department when they showed up.

I'll give you a thanks for them. I may miss a chance to say thanks now and then too. Getting all the information for the report and making sure that the vehicle is out cold tend to get in they way of courtesy now and then.
Thanks and keep up the good work. We do appreciate it! :victory:

 

[rezdiver]

If that is PKP(Potassium BiCarbonate), try NOT to use it on an electrical fire if you can.... it WILL degrade the wiring, and other electrical components. IIRC, its at least 4x more effective on an energized electrical fire, but, will cause issues with electrical stuff. Though, in most cases, that'll be the least of your worries.

not sure if that is what is inside, i will check. but like you said, its the last of my worries, as long as the ifre is put out electricals can be replaced. and my truck is so basic that a couple of wires and some breakers and i am good to go.
its the other guys truck that may be an issue if my extinguisher is being used and in that case, well, its not my truck, lol.

I used a different abc a couple of years ago on my truck (fire caused by electrical short) and any bare metal that was exposed rusted within two days. and all the ends of my wires hit by the extinguisher started to corrode and oxidize.