Fire Extinguishers

Fly

Fly

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Where do you guys keep your extinguishers?

I've been looking around the car, and I don't really have enough space in the front... I've been thinking on mounting it in the back near the window (see picture), but I don't trust the plastic in case of a collision.

img0139win.jpg


PS: The gaz jerrican is empty, I never drive around with it in the back, it was a staged picture for another forum to show what I keep when driving
 
I have a larger one, bolted to my luggage barrier.
Can be accessed by dropping the seat back - barrier only comes down to the top of the seats.
When touring and the luggage area is full I locate on the forward side of the barrier as high as possible above the drivers side rear seat, as I only have one passenger in the rear, on the passenger side.
 
As I have my cargo barrier mounted in the forward position (directly behind front seats with the rear seats down)
I decided to have mine permanently on the front of the cargo barrier.

img9416k.jpg


I did it this way because.....

1: I wanted quick access in the event of an emergency, as time is critical.

2: If for some reason I'm trapped (& theres a fire) I can reach it easily.

3: It also gives my something to smash the window with, so I can get out.

Another thing to remember too is, make sure you know how to use it :iconwink:
Theres not much sense having one if you don't know how to use it & use it properly :cool:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
I have mine attached across the front of the passenger seat at floor level. It is out of the way of leg room, but is able to be reached from the drivers seat without leaving it.

Reasons, much like Mr Turbo.

I can reach it if I am the one stuck in my car and it catches fire in an accident. Remember to look after #1 first.

It is out of the way of luggage (NEVER store it on the luggage side of a cargo barrier). Murphys law says when you want it, the boot will be full of luggage, or someone else has just rammed you from behind, and you cant gain acess.

I had not thought of MR Turbos #3.

Sorry I dont have pics of it at the moment, but will take one on the week end.


Beigewagon
 
One thing you need to remember is that one 1kg fire extinguisher is not enough. For any decent fir you will need 3 of them. This is a current discussion on the NSW WRX Club forum, as CAMS rules for 2012 have changed with regards the age of the fire extinguisher. As I understand it, the Australian standard means that fire extinguishers must be under 3 years old. CAMS regulations state that the extinguisher must be securely mounted. NRG in Sydney have a kit which uses the front seat mounting points and bolts to hold in a bracket that the fire extinguisher is bolted to. I have in my WRX a similar set up that houses 2 extinguishers in the back seat area- held in place by the bolts that hold the rear seat in.

As a Clerk of Course at motor racing events, I have seen the result of cars that catch fire and in that time there have been numerous instances where one extinguisher was not enough. If you blow an oil hose (say power steering) or worse a fuel hose, then the cost of extra extinguishers is substantially less than the cost of the car.
 
Thanks for everyone's insight - I will keep that in mind and look for a good place. Other ideas are still welcome ;)

@Rally: around here, no one has any extinguishers... having one is a lot, and even then people look at me like I'm some kind of paranoid freak! :O
But you are right, maybe I should put one there like on my pic (somehow secured better than with just the plastic) and one under the front passenger seat... at least two small ones wouldn't be a bad idea.

I'm not doing any race or rally (at least yet), so the idea for me is much more to slow down a fire (for instance, to get someone out of the car) and not necessarily to entirely stop it.
And also, altough it's secondary, as a safety when camping.
 
Fair enough- just remember that a burst hose can happen anywhere- not just a race track. People used to laugh at me when I carried a spare distributor on my outback trips. Then one day 1,000km's from home my distributor died- and the spare got me home! It wasn't that I went and bought a spare- I just upgraded to electronic from points and rather than throw the old one away I threw it into the boot of the car. Most pleased that I died.
 
I obtained a bracket that attaches to the front seat floor anchor points; so I just have to reach down & grab it. I got the bracket 2nd hand from a guy who was parting out his Foz so I don't know where he sourced it originally.
 
Kevin said:
I obtained a bracket that attaches to the front seat floor anchor points; so I just have to reach down & grab it. I got the bracket 2nd hand from a guy who was parting out his Foz so I don't know where he sourced it originally.
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I think thats the best way to do it. Its out of the way & instantly accessible.

I wonder where you can get the brackets from in Melb?
 
Any picture or at least maybe a manufacturer's name written somewhere on it? That would be helpful in a quest to find one^
 
I'll have a look

There's no markings on it whatsoever!

11804f07895d9d0e3.jpg


11804f07895e04e32.jpg
 
mine is attached the same as Kevin but I just used a straight length of steel and few thick washers as spacers. Tucks nicely under the front passenger seat. But agree with Rally 1kg is maybe not enough to put out an engine fire. Better than nothing I suppose
 
I agree with Rally that one 1kg extinguisher will not be enough for a fuel or oil fire, but should be enough for an electrical fire.

As a CFA vol (CFS or RFS in other sates) I have used a 1kg Dry chem on a car that had completely ruptured a full fuel tank in an accident and caught fire. It did not save the car, but allowed me to get to drivers door, and pull the driver free.


Beigewagon.
 
Gidday BW

Beigewagon said:
I agree with Rally that one 1kg extinguisher will not be enough for a fuel or oil fire, but should be enough for an electrical fire.
Click to expand...

Without using the car solely for the purpose of carrying around a fire extinguisher :lol:, what size would you suggest as being suitable?

Do insurance companies still give a discount for having a fire extinguisher in one's car?

As a CFA vol (CFS or RFS in other sates) I have used a 1kg Dry chem on a car that had completely ruptured a full fuel tank in an accident and caught fire. It did not save the car, but allowed me to get to drivers door, and pull the driver free.
Click to expand...

Well done.
I have helped remove someone from a wreck (once is enough for me ... ); but a burning vehicle is another matter altogether.

Beigewagon.
Click to expand...
 
How did the fuel tank rupture? What I am getting at is this-was the fuel tank mounted in/under the boot area, or in front of the rear axle line. Hopefully it was not mounted as a jerry can on the front of the bonnet like with this VW Beetle i passed on the Stuart Hwy in NT many years ago.

scan0026.jpg
 
Ratbag,

I only carry one 1kg in each of my cars. I figure it is more to save the occupants than the car. Leave the car for the insurance to deal with. As you say, we are driving cars, not Fire Trucks.

A 1kg dry chemical (dry powder) will cope with things like electrics, and most under bonnet fires. Once a fire has gotten into fuel lines, or the interior, consider it a loss.

Make sure when you buy an extinguisher that you get one that has the letters A,B,E in it. These are more versitile than just B,E types.

A=class A, papers, wood, rags, etc.
B=class B, Fuels, oils, etc (Liquids)
E=electrical, pretty obvious.

If you were travelling more remote, make sure each vehicle has an extinguisher, or if you are travelling alone, then having two would not be a bad idea.

Beigewagon.
 
Last edited:
Ratbag said:
Do insurance companies still give a discount for having a fire extinguisher in one's car?
Click to expand...
I didn't even think of that when I paid my insurance last time :o
I'll have to ask next time its due :iconwink:

Thanks for the tip Ratbag :)

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Rally,

It was an early 90's Commodore. It was stationary, stuck in traffic, when hit from behind by a late 90's Falcon doing about 60-70kmh. The Commodore was pushed off the road into the (country highway) median strip spoon drain. The impact smashed the front of the Falcon, and split the petrol tank on the Commodore. Not sure what the ignition source was. The fuel was contained under the car in the drain. The driver had just filled up several minutes earlier, both petrol and LPG, that was in the boot.

I did not realise the car was dual fuel until after I had pulled the driver from the car.


At Least the Beetle has the Jerry Can away from the motor. :poke:

Beigewagon.
 
Rally said:
Hopefully it was not mounted as a jerry can on the front of the bonnet like with this VW Beetle i passed on the Stuart Hwy in NT many years ago.

scan0026.jpg
Click to expand...
Why, oh why, oh why :confused: :huh: :confused:
That is an epic fail if ever I saw one :shake:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
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