fire extinguishers

[Capra]

Years ago I would often see one of these bolted to performance cars, usually fixed at the base of the passengers seats. Some of my parents friends used to have them as well. But I've not seen once carried for a long time. Is the general consensus these days, just get out and leave the car for the fire brigade?

 

[John Laidlaw]

Fair question, I haven’t carried one in an age but have occasionally thought about it (especially as Mercedes provide a lovely receptacle for same in front of the seats)...interested to hear other’s opinions. Nice thread

 

[Capra]

Fair question, I haven’t carried one in an age but have occasionally thought about it (especially as Mercedes provide a lovely receptacle for same in front of the seats)...interested to hear other’s opinions. Nice thread

It was something that I have thought about for a while.

I did find this one - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emergency-...673062&sr=1-17&keywords=car+fire+extinguisher

Then that got me thinking about getting out in an emergency - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emergency-...673062&sr=1-17&keywords=car+fire+extinguisher

 

[Craiglxviii]

I've never had one in a car until I bought the CL, which as John says has a lovely little locker at the front of each front seat base. Now, I'd also say that I've never seen the need for one until my friend's Chavic Type R decided to set itself on fire in the middle of Coventry city centre one sunny Saturday lunchtime, while stopped at traffic lights. A rapid dose of foam there and then might have prevented the whole car being written off, as it was it became a melted heap within 5 minutes. Ironically just around the corner from the fire station too.

 

[Blobcat]

The 911 had the optional fire extinguisher in front of the drivers seat, my 110 has one in front of the passenger seat and I've one in the boot of my current car (although I'm going to relocate it to in-front of the passenger seat presently)

Being a company car driver for a number of years Lex (and a few others) used to provide a bag in the boot with an emergency kit, including an extinguisher, escape hammer, disposable camera, first aid kit, earning triangle and hi-viz vests. I've a few of these lying around still.

I'd use the extinguisher if I had the need (Im trained) although primarily for escape or a small conflagration that I'd feel comfortable tackling.

 

[Woody123]

Never thought of carrying one. If my car ever caught fire I would step out of the car and let my insurance company deal with it. I pay them more than enough!!!

An extinguisher would be good in a car that has little/no market value but very high personal/sentimental value, as your interests are with the vehicle itself rather than the money it’s worth.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[keefysher]

I recall my 2 W211s had front of seat cubbies in both front seats. Passenger side had the First Aid Kit that was supplied with the car, driver side the extinguisher not supplied, but taken from my Z3. The W221 surprisingly didn't have the cubbies, but did have a First Aid kit in the boot. An extinguisher from the motorhome was put in the boot. The W166 doesn't have seat cubbies either, but did come with a First Aid kit that lives in a bin in the side of the boot floor, together with an extinguisher that was one of two in the motorhome.

I guess it's habit to carry an extinguisher, never needed to use one, but you never know...

Have 1 in the caravan too.

 

[Craiglxviii]

My 215 has the first aid kit in the rear seat armrest, and two front seat cubbies. I use these for emergency 500ml bottles of water

 

[Blobcat]

Not

I guess it's habit to carry an extinguisher, never needed to use one, but you never know...

Have 1 in the caravan too.

Your caravan insurance probably specifies you have to have an extinguisher I know my motor home insurance did.

 

[daveenty]

I bought one ages ago when I had my W212. Unfortunately I didn't measure it first so it was obviously much too big for the compartment under the seats.

I then decided that it was better living in the garage, as I've more chance of setting that on fire than the car. If the car goes up in flames I'll just make sure that it's properly alight before I phone for assistance as I certainly wouldn't want it back.

 

[Frontstep]

The fire extinguisher is for yourself and particularly if your car and you are stuck somewhere the fire extinguisher might just save your life or someone else trapped in their vehicle, waiting for the fire brigade can be a lottery.

 

[anglaslt]

In LT we're required to carry an extinguisher together with triangle, reflective jacket and first aid kit and they are checked during the technical test.

The idea is not just to protect yourself but to assist others too.

 

[LostKiwi]

In general unless you know what you are doing an extinguisher of the size carried in most cars will do next to nothing.
In some cases using one could not only increase the danger to the user but also aggravate the fire - opening the bonnet for example increases air flow to an engine fire.

That said if you have had the training (as I have) an extinguisher can make a huge difference. I had an oil fire in a Mini many years ago and just a three second squirt of a BCF extinguisher (since banned) sorted it.

The other issue with in car extinguishers is the lack of servicing they get. An extinguisher should be checked regularly, especially dry powder which with vibration in a car can compact down and fail to work when called on.

 

[Blobcat]

The other issue with in car extinguishers is the lack of servicing they get. An extinguisher should be checked regularly, especially dry powder which with vibration in a car can compact down and fail to work when called on.

The original one in my Landy was beyond serviceable (22 years) no gas left but man does that powder get everywhere

 

[mersum1es]

W210/W211 (and I believe other models too) has an SA code for extinguisher, and it's installed under drivers seat. I think it could be retrofitted, just need alternative mounting part instead of cubbie. AFAIK Gloria Design KFZ-Feuerlöscher F1G 1kg is same device that MB uses.

 

[LostKiwi]

The original one in my Landy was beyond serviceable (22 years) no gas left but man does that powder get everywhere

I dread to what sort of mess the 3kg one in my old Landy would have made!

 

[keefysher]

Not

Your caravan insurance probably specifies you have to have an extinguisher I know my motor home insurance did.

Neither the MH or caravan insurance required an extinguisher. With the caravan, it would be better to evacuate everyone and run than attempt to put it out, they tend to go up quickly and have gas in the pipework to the oven/hob, fridge, water boiler and BBQ point invariably.

 

[Naraic]

My cars both have extinguishers.
Although there is a cubby at the front of the passenger seat this is not designed to take an extinguisher...the drivers seat receptacle is completely different.

 

[00slk]

Like LK, I too set (maybe LK didn't) my rally car on fire fiddling with the dribbling Webbers and the fuel was collecting in the sump guard, I had no exhaust fitted at the time just the free flow and when I revved the car and switched off it backfired and set the fuel alight Luckily my mate was visiting in his rally car and we pushed my burning car out of my parents garage and I went to my mates car and got his fire extinguisher and proceeded to put out the fire. When we look into the garage the flames were nearly reaching the garage ceiling, and quickly ran with the extinguisher and were able to put out the flames of burning fuel. Mum and Dad were out at the time but the smoke and smell gave the show away when they returned home. This was is a good reason to keep a fire extinguisher in the rally cars and even better that I used my mates one instead of using mine! But also a lesson not to run a car without exhaust being complete.
When we were racing it was always a good point to check out where the fire marshalls were so if you did have a fire, drive if you could to them and they would use their expensive extinguishers. However while in the forest rallies an extinguisher could prevent the forest burning down if you had a fire on board your car.
We had fire extinguishers in all our lorries in the past but now not fitted, usually on a cost thing and health and safety. If on fire quickly walk away to a safe place and call the fire-brigade.
My 55 comes with a factory extinguisher safely nestled under the passenger seat, Mrs says she'll use it if I get too heated on an argument

 

[LostKiwi]

Like LK, I too set (maybe LK didn't) my rally car on fire fiddling with the dribbling Webbers and the fuel was collecting in the sump guard, I had no exhaust fitted at the time just the free flow and when I revved the car and switched off it backfired and set the fuel alight Luckily my mate was visiting in his rally car and we pushed my burning car out of my parents garage and I went to my mates car and got his fire extinguisher and proceeded to put out the fire. When we look into the garage the flames were nearly reaching the garage ceiling, and quickly ran with the extinguisher and were able to put out the flames of burning fuel. Mum and Dad were out at the time but the smoke and smell gave the show away when they returned home. This was is a good reason to keep a fire extinguisher in the rally cars and even better that I used my mates one instead of using mine! But also a lesson not to run a car without exhaust being complete.
When we were racing it was always a good point to check out where the fire marshalls were so if you did have a fire, drive if you could to them and they would use their expensive extinguishers. However while in the forest rallies an extinguisher could prevent the forest burning down if you had a fire on board your car.
We had fire extinguishers in all our lorries in the past but now not fitted, usually on a cost thing and health and safety. If on fire quickly walk away to a safe place and call the fire-brigade.
My 55 comes with a factory extinguisher safely nestled under the passenger seat, Mrs says she'll use it if I get too heated on an argument

I had a barrow escape when the banjo bolt holding the float bowl to the carburettor came undone on my SUs... The banjo bolt also provides fuel to the carburettor.... Felt a bad misfire and have some welly but it didn't clear so pulled over and popped the bonnet.... My nice double fuel pump in the boot was doing a sterling job of feeding the float bowl which in turned emptying itself over the red-hot exhaust manifold. It didn't catch fire but would have been a mighty fireball if it had! And yes Peter...it was my rally car on both occasions....