Fire Extinguisher

For safety reasons, I advise everyone carry at least one Fire extinguisher in either their vehicle or camping gear. For obvious reasons they are very useful.

Not much to look at and often never used, needed and forgotten..... But their everything when you need one and you don't have one.

I would recommend using Powder or Carbon Dioxide NOT Carbon Monoxide. Water and foam are adequate but if the fire is electrical then these can be dangerous &/or fatal to the user.
Powder is effective but messy, but easily cleaned up, C02 is in my experience most effective but can be unpleasant even harmful to the user in close quarters or small confined spaces.

TJ

Wouldn't recommend a carbon monoxide fire extinguisher as it will kill you and the fire would cremate you.

Perhaps you mean carbon dioxide.

My preferred choice is to carry one foam and one dry powder, in the event of a fuel fire such as petrol, oil, or diesel the foam will smother it if its used correctly, but it needs using correctly to be effective, and a dry powder as these are best for vehicle fires.

Current advice is to avoid carbon dioxide as they are an asphixiant and will kill, or do considerable damage to people in confined spaces.

Terracan Jas wrote:

I would recommend using Powder or Carbon Monoxide.

Priceless, you couldn't make it up!

I've got to leave that in there for entertainment value. Must be due to my fine typing after a glass of mead, and from that little mishap there must of been multiple glasses.....

What you want is Powder or carbon dioxide.

If that's how you are with the theory after a few glasses, i would recommend avoiding the practical because you won't know which of the three fires to put out.

You know me and Tom would have to comment.

Its all good fun.

Having been dormant for a year or more, when I first collected the RR myself and Kieran (Free Spirit) towed it with a straight bar. All was well until Kieran behind tried to do some braking for me, with disasterous consequences as the grease around the front hubs caught alight.

If it wasn't for a CO2 extinguisher on board, the Rangie would have quite literally melted!







I tell you, it was really alight, all you can see here is the smoke after the fires both sides had been put out. Being up around the hub and brakes, apart from a handy stream and a small bucket to douse the flames, there's no way you get earth or sand up high enough to put the fire out ... that's supposing of course there were piles of earth or sand nearby.

Lucky or what?

If you have a local place that sells all the Rolson tools etc, a lot of them are doing the Rolson range of dry powder extinguisher- great value - 2KG one for £18.50 at a garden centre down the road from here!

I know they say RR's have good heaters Tom, but thats taking it a bit far, heated hubs.

On a serious note, differing extinguishers have different uses and you used your carbon monoxide (couldn't resist) extinguisher outside and with this you extinguished the flames by asphixiation, but had no cooling so it could have re-ignited, a foam extinguisher could have smothered it and provided cooling, and is the reason i carry two types.

Don't I know it. As I say ... lucky!

I also carry a 5 litre plant spray can full of water. They are perfect for dry grass fires that have collected under the vehicle and started by a hot exhaust. Granted these don't happen much in the UK but it was a regular possibility in W Africa. Can also be used to clean lights, side windows and kids.

Well I've just found this.
I need to sort out my fire extinguisher.
So dry powder is out. There have been lots of instances where a dry powder extinguisher hasn't worked because the powder has settled down. If you do go dry powder route the EVERY week take the extinguisher off the bracket and shake the powder loose. I first came across this in the early 1970's when a rally Porsch caught fire. NONE of the dry powder extinguishers in the following cars that stopped worked. At that time the BCF extinguisher what made mandatory for competing vehicles.

BCF was banned because of it's effect on the enviroment {SP} also if you breathed the contents, you went on a trip.

That was replaced with the AFFF extinguisher that has to be emptied and refilled at correct intervals.

i don't fancy cleaning the foam off after I manage to put the fire out.

Having seen a MK2 Escort van get fully alight in seconds I wonder if I could actually get the fire out.

Now I've ordered a fire blanket one each for the trailer and the Defender.

So. What next.

Like Tom I've used a CO" with great effect. Also I've used a BCF with very good results.

I do carry a BCF in the Defender as well as the AFFF but I'm after later equipment. While you cannot refill a BCF I understand it is not illegal to use ont to put a fire out.

So I'm thinking of a small, 2litre, CO2.

comments ?

Found this on the net, makes for interesting reading:-

In the United Kingdom, fire safety in homes, workplaces and public areas is seen as very important. Fire doors are used in most buildings to prevent fires from spreading, and fire extinguishers are used to reduce the spread of, or put out, fires. Extinguishers can be used by any member of the public who has received fire training. In the U.K., Halon fire extinguishers used to be quite common but since they have been banned since the 1990s.

History
In the 1980s, halon fire extinguishers were widely manufactured in the United Kingdom. The company ICI was one of the largest U.K. manufacturers, producing a popular extinguisher known as BCF (an abbreviation of the chemical bromochluorodifluoromethane). In the U.K., halon fire extinguishers often were used to protect electrical equipments such as computers as, unlike dry powder extinguishers, the gas vaporised without leaving a residue.

Banning
In 1987, 150 countries signed the Montreal Protocol, which restricted the use of ozone-depleting chemicals. Halon 1211, used in fixed fire extinguishers, and Halon 1301, used in portable extinguishers, were found to be the largest depleters of the ozone layer in common use, making them contributors towards global warming. Consequently, Halon 1211 was banned in UK in 1993 and Halon 1301 was made illegal in 1999. According to U.K. law, all portable fire extinguishers and halon-based protection had to be decommissioned by December 31, 2003. However, in the U.K., halon fire extinguishers are still permitted in a few select areas, including in the Channel Tunnel, on aircraft and in naval vessels. This is because safety is crucial in these areas and alternative extinguishers are heavier and less effective.

Removing Halon Fire Extinguishers
Most halon fire extinguishers are contained in green cylinders. If any remain in unauthorised areas, such as a home or office, they are illegal and must be removed. Check the labels of all fire extinguishers for the words "Halon" or "BCF." Some specialist halon extinguishers are gold or yellow in colour.

Disposing of Halon Fire Extinguishers
Contact local authorities for information on disposal. Do not throw halon fire extinguishers in the normal garbage, as this is illegal. Do not release the gas into the atmosphere, as this harms the ozone layer.

Approved Fire Extinguishers
All buildings in the United Kingdom must have fire safety precautions and so it is important to replace halogen fire extinguishers. In the U.K., carbon dioxide and clean-agent extinguishers are the most popular. These are not as effective as halon extinguishers but are more environmentally friendly.

Extinguishers can be used by any member of the public who has received fire training.


I do like that bit about having received training....I do wonder how many people have had that training ?


When I pulled my BCF extinguishers out last year I rang the local fire service. I was told by the officer that answered the 'phone that HE wouldn't prosecute me for using a BCF extinguisher to put a fire out. I wonder if anybody would prosecute ?

So I'm still wondering what type to buy.

Co2 has to be the best all-rounder surely?

Tom Mc wrote:

Co2 has to be the best all-rounder surely?

Yes I think so
Amazon has them at a reasonable price.

Now the AFFF is mounted on the seatbox at the passenger side. Sort of under the passenger knees. Will the CO2 go there ?

Personally I like AFFF over dry powder as it is cleaner, easier to use and actually reduces the heat which hopefully would help prevent re-ignition.
Louis

lou1661 wrote:

Personally I like AFFF over dry powder as it is cleaner, easier to use and actually reduces the heat which hopefully would help prevent re-ignition.
Louis

Not having use my AFFF in anger I can't comment. What I'm not happy about is the continual cost of maintenance of the AFFF. Also is it possible to give one squirt of the AFFF like either the BCF or the CO2 or does it have to be completly emptied at each usage ?

gemini wrote:

Extinguishers can be used by any member of the public who has received fire training.


I do like that bit about having received training....I do wonder how many people have had that training ?


When I pulled my BCF extinguishers out last year I rang the local fire service. I was told by the officer that answered the 'phone that HE wouldn't prosecute me for using a BCF extinguisher to put a fire out. I wonder if anybody would prosecute ?

So I'm still wondering what type to buy.

I have had fire training when I used to drive takers.   

My only experience of fire extinguishers is in my day job as a firefighter, personally one use and replace. However the garden sprayer sounds like a good idea to me.

roamingman wrote:

I have had fire training when I used to drive takers.   

What was the training Yoda? 'kin run!!!

Could be wrong, but somehow I don't think a hand-held extinguisher would do a lot of good!

yes i agree... :shock: ....RUN........as fast as you can....  .

Well lubricated joints and good leg muscles are the only thing you need here, shorts help reduce friction, and light weight aid in acceleration from 0-Vmax.

Assassin wrote:

Well lubricated joints and good leg muscles are the only thing you need here, shorts help reduce friction, and light weight aid in acceleration from 0-Vmax.

That's something that at my age isn't available