Auto fire extinguishers in your S550?

[Elgyn]

Almost 20 here as well.

But several in this thread don't seem to understand the point of a vehicle mounted extinguisher. Maybe you can clarify the relevance for them. Thanks!

+1

I've used mine twice on other people vehicles

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[Emt1581]

/s/ Nope. Just wanted to throw my weight around instead of explaining things. Much more fun to take offense and go on the attack. /s/

Most of the accidents involving fire as a result of a collision that I have been involved in, have rendered the occupants incapable of fighting said fire. The main advantage of carrying a fire extinguisher in my vehicle is being able to assist others in these situations.

I keep one in the trunk for just such emergencies. I also carry first aid equipment and pocket masks.

I have performed CPR on two separate occasions on the side of the road, both motorcycle accidents. I have delivered four babies, two without gear and now try to be prepared.

I have not come upon an auto fire with a trapped occupant who would be able to fight the fire. Car fires yes. Trapped people burning, not so much.

Your mileage may vary....

When you said "be able to fight the fire"....does that mean an extinguisher within the occupant's reach would have been useless in all those cases?

What I've seen is airbag deployment, bloody face, broken knees/legs and entrapped but their arms work fine and if they themselves couldn't reach out the window or aim wherever and extinguish, the people pulling over to help sure as hell could.

IFAKs in the same respect aren't always meant to be implemented by the person wearing it. Doesn't make it useless.

 

[pdac]

Shocking that these are not required as standard equipment on all new cars. Same goes for parachutes and life rafts.

 

[yessirrom]

I am not sure where you read anyone saying it was "useless". I am sure that in a very narrow and specific set of circumstances it could be life saving.

When I respond to an accident involving a fire, I do not walk up and start spraying an extinguisher into the cabin. I prefer not to compromise the breathing of the occupants, especially if they cannot escape. I would prefer that the occupants not do this to themselves either. Try spraying a fire extinguisher in a closet sometime.

You have seen " airbag deployment, bloody face, broken knees/legs and entrapped but their arms work fine".

How many of those were on fire?

 

[Emt1581]

I am not sure where you read anyone saying it was "useless". I am sure that in a very narrow and specific set of circumstances it could be life saving.

When I respond to an accident involving a fire, I do not walk up and start spraying an extinguisher into the cabin. I prefer not to compromise the breathing of the occupants, especially if they cannot escape. I would prefer that the occupants not do this to themselves either. Try spraying a fire extinguisher in a closet sometime.

You have seen " airbag deployment, bloody face, broken knees/legs and entrapped but their arms work fine".

How many of those were on fire?

Narrow/specific set...bingo!! Better to have and not need than the other way around right?

The firewall should hopefully protect most/all cabin initially. I was referring to the engine bay with a bystander possibly assisting.

As for how many were on fire...no clue. But I bet some of those that were burned/killed would have appreciated an extinguisher within arms reach.

Definitely baffled by all the sarcasm here from others. This isn't exactly a new concept...

https://www.google.com/search?q=car+mounted+fire+extinguisher&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS717US718&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-08LontXWAhUl2oMKHfUqARkQ_AUICygC&biw=1440&bih=794

 

[Strokerswild]

I carry one in my Jeep DD, for use in helping others on the road if need be or for anywhere I happen to be where there isn't one. First aid kit too.

If the Jeep ever catches fire I get out ASAP, move to a safe distance, and watch it burn to the ground....

 

[PortalMaker]

Wow! Haven't seen these in years. Roughly 10 years ago I had friends who were into serious custom audio more than performance mods. They all had one of these small extinguishers mounted in their vehicles... so they could help each other out just in case someone's equipment shorted out during an audio battle.

 

[Sig556]

[
The reason I post this is because I was thinking about mounting a small extinguisher somewhere within my reach. Not sure where there's enough room for one though. Has anyone done this? What size extinguisher did you go with and what mount? Pics would be great!

Thanks![/QUOTE]

I have had a 2 pound Dry Chemical extinguisher mounted in my vehicles since 1966 and that is 29 vehicles to date. I just removed the one in my 2015 GT that I traded. Most installs were on the right side floor in the trunk. A few were mounted in the middle under the rear package tray in the trunk. Why in the trunk and not in the car? Well if it's on fire the first thing you want to do is get out.

 

[mustang1]

...

As for how many were on fire...no clue. But I bet some of those that were burned/killed would have appreciated an extinguisher within arms reach.

if this data is accurate, the odds are low :

http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/property-type-and-vehicles/vehicles

"U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 152,300 automobile fires per year in 2006-2010. These fires caused an average of 209 civilian deaths, 764 civilian injuries, and $536 million in direct property damage.

from another article :

"In 2013, more than 32,000 people died on U.S. roads, roughly 90 fatalities a day, according to the CDC.

209 / 32000 ~ 0.65%

 

[Bartly]

.....Try spraying a fire extinguisher in a closet sometime.

....

Made me remember being a dumb 18 year old with some dumb buddies knocking on my "other friends" motel room door saying "landshark" and then busting in with a fire extinguisher going full on. Pretty sure that ended up with a fist fight.:doh:

Side note over on the Jeepforum, a person won't get ridiculed for wanting to carry a fire extinguisher, but more so for wanting to carry a small one. The Jeep crowd is convinced a small extinguisher won't have enough in it to save anyone, let alone a car. It's funny to see how same topics go different directions depending on the crowd.

 

[ahl395]

I'm thinking about getting something like this. With all the electrical upgrades I have and methanol injection sounds like a good idea...

 

[Quackfoo]

The problem here is most fires start outside the cabin. If your car is mangled enough you can't get out, a small fire extinguisher isn't going to help you. It might actually cause more problems. If you can't get to the source you can spray all day and get no where, it's useless. If you want one because you messed with the fuel system and you think your engine may catch on fire, go for it. Just don't think it's going to save you inside the car during a gasoline/oil fire outside of it after an accident!

 

[Emt1581]

if this data is accurate, the odds are low :

http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/property-type-and-vehicles/vehicles

"U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 152,300 automobile fires per year in 2006-2010. These fires caused an average of 209 civilian deaths, 764 civilian injuries, and $536 million in direct property damage.

from another article :

"In 2013, more than 32,000 people died on U.S. roads, roughly 90 fatalities a day, according to the CDC.

209 / 32000 ~ 0.65%

Even if we ignore the 764 and stick with the 209...do YOU want to be one of them? Seems like a pretty cheap and easy thing to invest in for at least a shot...an option...should you find yourself in that situation.

It's popular to blow $150-$300 on oil separators. Hell, I have one!! Yet I've never seen any evidence that NOT having one broke an engine and an S550's engine specifically. Yet spending $20-$30 on an extinguisher so you have a chance to avoid burning given the right circumstances...that's far fetched?

Again, I'd rather have and not need than need and not have. But YMMV.

 

[Chameleon]

The time spent dismounting the extinguisher and searching for the exact source of the fire would be better used to get everybody out;)

Look at OP's zero thanks in all posts, this guy likes to start stuff. Pay him no mind :doh:

 

[Emt1581]

Look at OP's zero thanks in all posts, this guy likes to start stuff. Pay him no mind :doh:

As I've said to you when you PM'd me....I SAY thank you in the posts. Just because I don't click a button to duplicate that, hopefully not too many are getting sand in their vagina over it.

....now back to fire extinguishers.

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