Fire Extinguisher

I'm curious if anyone knows anything about automobile fire extinguishers.

I want to run MAM and need to mount one up to pass tech. I'll also need some sort of mount.

So first off, what retardant do I want? From my research, Halon is easiest to clean up, but may not work very well in 'open' environments. I was thinking baking soda unless someone can convince me otherwise.

Next, what size bottle?

What mount? Is the cheapie mount that comes with some of the bottles ok?

Finally, any place you recommend to purchase?

I really don't want to spend a whole lotta cash on it, as I'll be spending a bit getting down there, playing, and staying.

Thanks in advance.

 

Where's Chong when you need him? Chong has one in his car, and he uses it because he had experience with a bad engine bay fire without one.

 

Mr. F,

For once your correct. I guess the most dangerous fires everyone should consider is a gasoline fire. I had an oil fire and was glad the had a water fire extinguisher. The reason why is because most of the chemicals in these things are not very good when your trying to save your motor and electrical parts and wires. They tend to eat thru them, so I was lucky.

The reason why they want an extinguisher inside the car is to buy you time til the rescue team gets to you if you were to have a compartment fire and was straped in or was turned over.

As far as where to get it, I'd check with some local hot rod shops like MAS or just check in the yellow pages. You may not want to spend a lot of money, but you also dont want to sell yourself short.

I like to have mine mounted under the driver seat floor just under my foot, or along the shifter consol mounted diagonally for easy access. If you buy one from a High Performance store they will usually have a kit with some brakets.

Goodluck and be safe!

C

 

Halon is Dangerous too... Use to have this type of system when I was back in the Navy only on whole room scale. It displaces the O2 so the fire goes out hence the need for enclosed spaces. That also means you will sufficate if you are in this area. I had no idea that they could even sell them out to general public.

If you need a fire extingisher for your car I would probably just get a cheap chemical powder agent. These regular dry chemical fire extinguishers utilize a non-toxic, sodium bicarbonate dry chemical agent, which is effective against B and C class fires. Perfect for automotive fires.

It will probably come with a bracket, get a long Velcro strap to hold it in place.

 

Thanks FBrd, exactly the kind of info I was looking for. Mushahi, how in the world did you get an oil fire out with a water extinguisher?

 

I guess the water washed the oil off the exhaust manifold which was where the fire had started because I blew off the oil filter running 10k rev's.

 

I have a fire extinguisher in both my Sube and Truck. I purchased mine from Menards. Its actually a good Extinguisher. Get the white one that is half the size of a big one. It is BC which is what you want in your car, and it comes with a mount with a strap to hold the bottle, and wont take to much space. I believe it was like $20.00 I have used these on oil and electrical fires and they work great!!

Also I needed one for an event before and they said what I have is the right kind. So you cant go wrong.

Dave

 

Dave:

Where/how did you end up mounting yours?

FWIW, I ended up stopping by PepBoys and picking up a non-refillable 5BC sodium bicarbonate extinguisher by Kidde for ~$13.

 

Right now Its not mounted but for last race season It was mounted on the side of the center council by the passengers feet area. If that makes sense? I need to mount that today for the AARRF event tomorrow even though its not needed.

Dave

 

It was for fire extinguisher training at work. They gave us different scenerios and different extinguishers to show what worked on what and what didnt.
Dave