FIRE!!!

[dkn1997]

 

Took off from work yesterday to help a friend wire his new 10 car detached garage.  He has quite a collection of cars, all ford stuff.   '26 Lincoln Doctor's coupe, '29 model A pickup, '34 roadster, '50 woody wagon, '66 mustang GT fastback (289 4/spd, factory air, factory california emissions) '72 bronco.

anyway, I had dropped my car off for an oil change and about mid day, we decided to go pick it up.  so 3 of us jump into the '26 doctors coupe.  after we got my car, I was following him back, and it starts running like a bag 'o shit.  so we pull over and while he's trying to start it again,  near the carb.  this engine has the exhaust manifolds up top, right next to the carb.  i guess some gas spilled and hit the hot manifold.  We got real lucky in that some lady came out of her house with a fire extinguisher and it went out with one shot.

This car is near museum quality (was in a museum for 30 years until my friend got it and started driving it)
and as my buddy put it "we almost had a 75,000 dollar day!"  in the end, it barely damaged anything and will probably run fine after some carb work (with stuff this old, probably 2 grand worth of carb work!)

Turns out that we did have a fire extinguisher in the trunk, but it's been a long time since he drove the car and forgot it was there.

I POSTED THIS JUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT IT'S DIRT CHEAP INSURANCE TO HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN YOUR OLD RIDE!!  MOST OF US HAVE NOT DITCHED THAT 40 YEAR OLD WIRING YET AND WE STILL RUN CARBS WITH POTENTIAL TO BACKFIRE AND IGNITE GAS.  AND DON'T PUT IT IN THE TRUNK, YOU MIGHT FORGET YOU HAVE IT.  KEEP IT SOMEWHERE HANDY

[Old Moparz]

Glad to hear the car wasn't badly damaged, & good reminder. 

I've had a fire extinguisher in my Satellite convertible ever since I've owned it, which was 1984. It's just a cheap disposable one, but it's right up front on the floor hump under the dash. I've replaced it twice from age. Old Chrysler products were notorious for being hit with electrical problems, & the previous owner of my first Charger had one that did damage in the engine compartment. He took care of it, but it opened my eyes to what could happen.

As long as we are talking extinguishers, don't forget to have one in the garage & house too.

[TylerCharger69]

Yeah...they come in pretty handy!!

[mikepmcs]

Ok, i'm taking my extinguisher out of the trunk today and putting it in the car up front.  If I don't do it today then I will forget to do it when spring rolls around. Thanks for the reminder.
Glad everything turned out ok and noone was hurt.
Also don't forget, these extinguishers can expire as well depending on the type you get.
v/r
Mike

[41husk]

I need to get an exstinguiser for each of my cars, I say this every year and never get it done.

[mikepmcs]

Walmart/Home Depot has all kinds for cheap.

I'm gonna get a couple more today for the woodshop and garage.
Can't have too many.

[whitehatspecial]

 

If you're buying a new extinguisher consider a Halon type. Expensive but leaves no white residue.

[Doc74]

Isn't it mandatory to have a fire extinguisher within reach ? Or is this only with non classics ?

I'm sure I'll find a spot in front of the passenger seat or something, I wouldn't want my car to burn to a crisp...altough I'm not sure at this point I'd notice the difference ...

[mikepmcs]

If you're buying a new extinguisher consider a Halon type. Expensive but leaves no white residue.

One note on Halon, it will suck all the oxygen out of the surrounding area and you could suffocate in an enclosed environment.

v/r
Mike

[PocketThunder]

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_extinguisher

Halons

Halon fire extinguisherHalons are very versatile extinguishers. They will extinguish most types of fire except class D & K/F and are highly effective even at quite low concentrations (less than 5%). Halon is a poor extinguisher for Class A fires, a nine pound Halon extinguisher only receives a 1-A rating and tends to be easily deflected by the wind. They are the only fire extinguishing agents that are quite suitable for discharge in aircraft (as other materials pose a corrosion hazard to the aircraft). Halon fire-suppression systems are also incorporated into some armored fighting vehicles, such as the M1 Abrams tank. The major extinguishing effect is by disturbing the thermal balance of the flame, and to a small extent by inhibiting the chemical reaction of the fire. Halons are chlorofluorocarbons causing damage to the ozone layer and are being phased out for more environmentally-friendly alternatives. Halon fire extinguishers may cost upwards of 800 US dollars due to production and import restrictions.

Halon extinguishers used to be widely used in vehicles and computer suites. It is mildly toxic in confined spaces, but to a far less extent than its predecessors such as carbon tetrachloride, chlorobromomethane and methyl bromide.

Since 1992 the sale and service of Halon extinguishers has been made illegal in Canada due to environmental concerns except for in a few rare cases, as per the Montreal Protocol.

In the UK and Europe Halons were made illegal at the end of 2003, except for certain specific aircraft and law enforcement uses. This appears to be at least partially in response to the Montreal Protocol and effort by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to combat release of quantities of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.

[Doc74]

One note on Halon, it will suck all the oxygen out of the surrounding area and you could suffocate in an enclosed environment.

v/r
Mike

Hmmm anti theft device....

[mikepmcs]

Here's another great article on Halon uses and concerns.  It's worth a read.

Not bashing the use because we used it in the Navy, but just want all to be aware of the cautions/warnings.

http://erd.dli.mt.gov/safetyhealth/brochures/halon.pdf

v/r
Mike

[PocketThunder]

Summit Racing has fire extinguishers starting at $43.

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?Ns=P_SRE_DisplayPrice%7C0&N=700+-197597+115&Ntt=&Ntk=&rsview=sku&RC=10

[BrianShaughnessy]

My extinguisher is mounted in front of my driver's seat.

There are car shows run by the AACA (? not sure on the acronym) that require you to have an extinguisher in your car or you will be disqualified.

Anyway hope it works out.   

[Shakey]

If one really wants to get trick, you could have the extinguisher hooked up to some hard lines running under the dash and into the engine bay.  First sign of fire, pull the pin and pull the trigger right from the driver's seat.  Not sure if it is possible, but it would be nice to be able to block off either passage depending on where the fire is.

Don't forget about the battery quick disconnects!   

[TruckDriver]

Thats a good pointer. I'll get one for my Charger and Dakota. It would be a blessing if my Ford mini van burnt up

[chargerboy69]

Here's another great article on Halon uses and concerns.  It's worth a read.

Not bashing the use because we used it in the Navy, but just want all to be aware of the cautions/warnings.

http://erd.dli.mt.gov/safetyhealth/brochures/halon.pdf

v/r
Mike

Guys. . I work for the Fire Marshalls Office in Indiana. Halons are the best, and only type to have in you car. If you get the cheep extinguishers from Walmart, they are usually only good for 6 months or so. And half the time they will not work at all, even if the gauge reads that it is charged. Never, never buy the brand Kidde. . . You do not need to be concerned with using a Halon extinguisher. Contrary to what has been said here,  you can buy Halon extinguishers brand new today. If people want a Halon extinguisher I can get one for you. DO NOT use the ABC powder type extinguisher for your car. Nothing will ruin the wiring under your hood, or your engine, than shooting a powder extinguisher under the hood of your car.

[hemi68charger]

Amen to the extinguishers !!!  I know all about that NOW...... 

[MOPARHOUND!]

We carry some cheap ones from Wal-Mart in our vehicles.

----------------------------------------------------

Not a fire, but a scary situation.

Moved my car in and out of the garage last March after setting all Winter.

Garage had the strong smell of gas, and I thought it odd that exhaust would be that rich.

Glad I raised the hood, as the 2 year old rubber fuel line on the Holley carb had a small crack.  It was spraying gas on the fenderwell next to the header when the car was running, something you couldn't see with the hood down.

I really need to get those changed to steel.

[chargerboy69]

We carry some cheap ones from Wal-Mart in our vehicles.

I am sorry to say those are junk. Hopefully those will work for you if you ever need them. Good luck. .

[Neal_J]

In an emergency, ANY fire extinguiher - even those from WalMart - is better than nothing.

Great suggestion.

Neal

[tan top]

that was lucky .could of been a lot worse .
            Shakey i have read about  some thing like that , there is some sort of plastic line that is sealed at one end .with the other going to a  fire extinguisher tank in the trunk . the line is continuously under pressure . you can run the line any where . run it along the wire harnesses fix it to the in side of the hood etc . the plastic line is made out of a special plastic that melts & leaves small holes the line at a certain temperature . extinguishing stuff right where it is needed .

[Skued]

My boat has automatic fire suppression system called Fireboy, http://www.fireboy-xintex.com/fire_extinguishing.html .  I know it's for marine use and the activation temp. seem pretty low (175 F), but why couldn't something similar work?

Steve

[Shakey]

that was lucky .could of been a lot worse .
            Shakey i have read about  some thing like that , there is some sort of plastic line that is sealed at one end .with the other going to a  fire extinguisher tank in the trunk . the line is continuously under pressure . you can run the line any where . run it along the wire harnesses fix it to the in side of the hood etc . the plastic line is made out of a special plastic that melts & leaves small holes the line at a certain temperature . extinguishing stuff right where it is needed .

What I described was something similar to what we used to run on the stock car.

[chargerboy69]

In an emergency, ANY fire extinguiher - even those from WalMart - is better than nothing.

Great suggestion.

Neal

I have to disagree with you on that one. . . I go to so many fires where people have tried to put out the small fire with, "one from Walmart" and they do not work. By the time they run around, and finally find another one that works, or another way to put out the fire, the fire is to large for them to do anything about. You need to spend the money on a commercial grade extinguisher, and get it out the first time.