Fire Extinguisher (In-truck)?

[Veritas107]

Having had a FE in all my trucks/cars and being a retired FF. Throwing dirt on your engine compartment is a sad sight to witness. Keep them in plain view in case you’re injured and think about buying a CO2 Extinguisher to lessen damage by the agent. Hint. Visually inspect your engine compartment often to catch any Class B leaks!

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[Carlitos_92]

I have been driving for 46 years now, and in all of those years I have yet to find myself in a situation where I could have used a fire extinguisher. No doubt the gods will now smite me for my hubris. But I’m just going to leave the fire extinguisher in the kitchen pantry.

I can’t tell if you’re bragging about being unprepared, or bragging about being lucky… but what an odd stance to take.

 

[Veritas107]

I need to carry one more often. I’ve been in several situations where I needed one.
I travel for work so I see a lot of fires. One time I wish I had one. Late at night two years ago. Saw a car on fire center of highway. Nobody stopped to check. I pulled over, ran across the highway. To my surprise a young girl was unconscious inside. Car on fire. I didn’t have much time so window got broke, but also my hand so I could get her out. By the time someone showed with an extinguisher she would have been gone. Got her out and dragged to safety and got the fire out. But would hav been a lot more comfortable if I could have put out the fire first. My hand would also not be permanently messed up.

Good story. While driving in a down pour I was too late. One girl extricated herself. But the driver perished in the fire. I think the trauma sustained in the crash did her in. Gasoline is like a bomb. Too bad.

 

[Johnkn]

I have a pair of Element extinguishers in each of my vehicles that does not have Halon....

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[Brianx]

I have been driving for 46 years now, and in all of those years I have yet to find myself in a situation where I could have used a fire extinguisher. No doubt the gods will now smite me for my hubris. But I’m just going to leave the fire extinguisher in the kitchen pantry.

decades ago i needed one and didn't have it. i had a VW Rabbit and forgot to put the oil cap back on after adding. flames were licking out of the edges of the hood going down the highway. it was like a WWII movie fighter going down! THEN after i stopped, i opened the hood to a small fire. an extinguisher would have saved the day....BUT not having one i quickly remembered a gallon of liquid in the back and started pouring it on. It was antifreeze...who knew it was flammable? certainly not me. in the end, fire trucks arrived. D'oh!

 

[George the Ford Man]

I have been driving for 46 years now, and in all of those years I have yet to find myself in a situation where I could have used a fire extinguisher. No doubt the gods will now smite me for my hubris. But I’m just going to leave the fire extinguisher in the kitchen pantry.

My Ford Courier had a bad valve cover gasket about 40 years ago, the leaking oil started a fire and I had nothing but roadside dirt to throw on the engine. Luckily, a guy pulled up and sprayed it down with his extinguisher- so I’ve carried one ever since but I’ve never had to use it.

 

[Refrigman]

My Ford Courier had a bad valve cover gasket about 40 years ago, the leaking oil started a fire and I had nothing but roadside dirt to throw on the engine. Luckily, a guy pulled up and sprayed it down with his extinguisher- so I’ve carried one ever since but I’ve never had to use it.

I lived in Tucson area for 42 years and kept basic extinguishers inside my vehicle cabins and/or trunks throughout. Despite the very high summer temperatures I never had any problems with them. I would rather risk that than have a fire to deal with without one. Way better, as with many things, to have and not need than need and not have. Much like my jump start lithium power supplies that I keep in each vehicle (and keep charged) which I have often used to help both myself and others as needed. Compact, inexpensive yet powerful. And much easier and faster than waiting for a jump from AAA or pushing a vehicle to pop the clutch ( even on the one vehicle I still own with a standard transmission.) Though push starting a standard will bypass a bad starter that jumping won’t get past. And I also still carry jumper cables as well.

 

[FamousAmos]

I keep mine in the bed cubby under my tonneau. Have had no issues for 2 years now. I personally would be uncomfortable leaving it in the cabin in the summer because it could cause a massive mess.

Thanks. I never thought of that. I will move mine from the cabin to the bed.

 

[Bwicka]

What is wrong with everyone , according to the anti -ev and the internet only ev’s catch fire!

ha . In my travels and racing , I’ve seen 30-50 roadside fires, assisted in at least 10 rescue/ extinguish fires and had multiple small electrical / exhaust fires of sorts ( in off road race situations)
Usually am the one pulling over to throw any water at the situation , always carried a 10 lb on the work truck , have fully used that 3 times and carry at least 2 ,5 lb in race truck 1 in cab and 1 in back .
Immensely valuable.
In SoCal here and the amount of freeway driving I do servicing over 1500 cell sites between 3 counties , and with over 10 years of teslas on the road and just about 1 in 10 on the freeway now , have yet to see one ev fire!
All gas trucks, motor homes and cars so far!
Would recommend even a 5 lb mounted in front bed corner at minimum. You may save a life.

 

[Mr Pibb]

What is wrong with everyone , according to the anti -ev and the internet only ev’s catch fire!

ha . In my travels and racing , I’ve seen 30-50 roadside fires, assisted in at least 10 rescue/ extinguish fires and had multiple small electrical / exhaust fires of sorts ( in off road race situations)
Usually am the one pulling over to throw any water at the situation , always carried a 10 lb on the work truck , have fully used that 3 times and carry at least 2 ,5 lb in race truck 1 in cab and 1 in back .
Immensely valuable.
In SoCal here and the amount of freeway driving I do servicing over 1500 cell sites between 3 counties , and with over 10 years of teslas on the road and just about 1 in 10 on the freeway now , have yet to see one ev fire!
All gas trucks, motor homes and cars so far!
Would recommend even a 5 lb mounted in front bed corner at minimum. You may save a life.

Got an idea of a good mount to strap one into the bed? Going to be running with a retractable so I'd be mounting it closer to the tailgate.

 

[Bwicka]

Got an idea of a good mount to strap one into the bed? Going to be running with a retractable so I'd be mounting it closer to the tailgate.

https://www.amazon.com/Release-Alum...fa6f8d4ba89831b7b2723cdd7111affc&gad_source=1
These work great can hold in any position , could go horizontal and use shallow strut using factory track holes

 

[Superg0]

My fire extinguisher mod. I had some foam laying around. Cut holes in two pieces. One at the bottom, and this at the top. Very snug fit.

 

[RRaynor2]

I kept one in the cabin of my previous vehicle and had no issues, but that was a white SUV with tinted windows. I think the stated temp limit on the FE was around 120F but not for sure at the moment.

The same FE is now under the back seat in my Maverick, also with tinted windows and usually a windshield shade. No concerns yet.

Kidde et al make vehicle/marine extinguishers but these seem to be slightly different compositions for the fire class as opposed to higher canister temp tolerance.

The manufacturers don’t seem to want to recommend more than 120F, but check this out, particularly the bit about the UL listing:
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-07-vw-1008-story.html

I suspect that thermal cycling is what the concern would be with a fire extinguisher kept inside the vehicle. Bringing it up to 120 and then back down to 70 over and over could cause the chemicals to degrade and the pressure vessel to fatigue. Same is true for ammo, btw (another topic entirely).

That being said, I keep an ABC in my truck ever since I saw a car go up in flames start to finish on the side of the road. A fire started on the underside of a classic car i front of me at a stop light. We couldn't get it out as it was fairly low to the ground and no one had anything except a small water bottle. Eventually it spread before the FD got there and it went up.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I like my Green Halon fire extinguishers. They are FAA approved. Corporate or my own, I always trusted them in the aircraft I flew.

 

[Veritas107]

I couldn't bank enough for CO2 ext. So I purchased a Class BC ext. I figure it will save my truck/engine without too much residue as a Class A would. I had two colleagues who stopped and used (hum...) two IV bags!!! It was a very sad sight which I did not witness...

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