What Are The Best Fire Extinguishers For Home And Car use?

12 years ago

I recently lost my 1993 Ford Explorer to a Dash Fire or Electrical Melt-Down while trying to start the engine. This was my first related starting problem w/o a dead battery or starter. There was not ever a flame visible. When I saw signs of smoke coming from under the dash: I disconnected the battery, felt for a warm fuse, started firing under the dash with a CO2 extinguisher. I fired in the blind until the smoke stopped. As the dash, instrument cluster and AC vents showed openings due to the heat, I fired in the openings and AC vent. The smoke or heat was never too intense to step away from the opened doors. A preliminary inspection showed the heat was coming from a melting/charred wiring harness. That was connected at the ignition switch on the steering column and confined to that area.

What could I have done different? The CO2 extinguisher had very little affect on the hot melting wires toward cooling them. It had to be a direct short not associated with the battery or fuse when I noticed the smoke. loger

PS. 116,000 total mi avg 3,000 yearly since retirement. I was set for years to come or at least to think about what I wanted to learn to drive after all these years. "Time Brings About A Change"!

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Comments (5)

gator_rider2
12 years ago
A B C 5 lb. should be ok for car big truck 10 lb. Home 10 lb. co2 dry powder Extinguisher baking powder what in then some litely colored. Dry powder keep out trouble around electic. These take care spot fire's around home car. Those real small extinguishers are for small boats with out board motors spray them at base of flame for best control. Size of extinguisher should give second fight on fire because wiring insulation flare back up 5 gallon water works wonder on fire but not electical fire.
loger_gw
Original Author
12 years ago
Gator rider2, Thanks for the reply!

This will give me some info to start with. "Time slips away". I let too many years pass w/o evaluating my extinguishers. IÂll hope to check all and upgrade as needed very soon. As an example, I have an old steel vs plastic CO2 General Extinguisher in the bedroomÂs closet, 5 pound class with a steel/plastic combo movable nozzle, no gauge and heavy heavy (25-30 Lbs). ThatÂs from the late 70s from what I can remember and probably needed hydro testing in the 80s. I do have other later small plastic extinguishers in the kitchen and boat. loger
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Another thought on having a fire extinguisher - have you ever actually used one? I worked at a private school where the admin arranged a whole class for the staff on using a fire extinguisher. I couldn't believe it, but what the heck? It turned out to be pretty interesting. One surprising thing was how my fellow teachers managed the kind of extinguisher with a hose: Every single person who used that extinguisher sprayed their shoes before spraying the target, even after watching the person beside them do the exact same thing. So that's probably not the kind to get if you only use it for real once in your life. Using this kind everyone could hit the target first time out. Also, actually take a look at the top of the thing to see where the pull ring is and a take mental walk through what you'd have to do to make it spray. It's not at all difficult (except for the shoe spray thing), but it does require you to figure it out ahead of time. Another thought: if you have small hands (that would be me) or limited strength (arthritis?), be sure that the extinguisher you choose you can actually use. I frequently find that tools and what-all are designed by Godzilla who figures everyone has baseball mitts for hands. If the squeezy parts of the extinguisher are set so far apart that your thumb and baby finger can't get a grip, you might as well not have the thing. Choose one from a more enlightened manufacturer or go for the kind that has a trigger set not too far from the handle. When you really need a fire extinguisher, you probably won't be in your most calm and analytic frame of mind, so be sure that the design of the equipment itself won't add to or even create feelings of panic.
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See link below for details. For best protection, it is recommended both (ionization and photoelectric) technologies be in homes. In addition to individual ionization and photoelectric alarms, combination alarms that include both technologies in a single device are available. The web link below has a great video. Ionization smoke detection is generally more responsive to flaming fires.How they work: Ionization-type smoke alarms have a small amount of radioactive material between two electrically charged plates, which ionizes the air and causes current to flow between the plates. When smoke enters the chamber, it disrupts the flow of ions, thus reducing the flow of current and activating the alarm. Photoelectric smoke detection is generally more responsive to fires that begin with a long period of smoldering (called "smoldering fires").How they work: Photoelectric-type alarms aim a light source into a sensing chamber at an angle away from the sensor. Smoke enters the chamber, reflecting light onto the light sensor; triggering the alarm. Have a plan for a fire. Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. Your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms, and advance planning Ã¯Â¿Â½ a home fire escape plan that everyone in your family is familiar with and has practiced. If you are building a new home install automatic fire sprinklers. EVEN if the local code does not require it. About $1.50 per s. ft. if you have a public water supply. Here is a link that might be useful: NFPA
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Everyone has such a different take on this subject. I'm one of 8 children. When Dad was alive, we'd make an effort to get as many of us as possible together at his house a couple of times a year--he loved this. This would result in multiple cars at his house for a few days--two in the garage, three in the driveway, 2-4 more out on the street in front of his property (he had a double lot, so there was room enough). Some neighbors would comment to us that Dad must be happy we were all visiting. Some neighbors would nervously inquire if Dad was okay--all the cars made them think he must be dying or something. And the guy who parked all his cars in front of Dad's empty lot most days would complain that we were taking up all the street parking. Cars are part of day to day life. It strikes me as odd that seeing a car on a residental street could be seen as wrecking a "view." People have cars; they need a place to park them. If seeing a neighbor's cars really bothers you that much, then probably best you move someplace where that is regulated.
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Regarding recharging. Either I worked or shopped somewhere, and they had a company come in periodically. I would bring in my extinguishers when the business would have theirs serviced. The cost of recharge is very close to the purchase price, and many extinguishers are not rechargeable. If you do not want the burden of servicing your fire extinguisher, purchase the less expensive plastic top ones.
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rcmoser
12 years ago
I would look for one that can be serviced/charged at the local fire department or stop by and ask them which ones can be charged if they can? I brought several of the cheapie's at wally world to find out year or two later they bleed off and out of the green.

sorry to hear about your explorer, Ford had some recalls if I remember correctly on ign or cruise controls due to fires in the 90's. I seen 2000 explorer EB edition on craigslist for $2600 couple of days ago. Here in the semi-south where I live they are easy to find fairly cheap if you know what your looking at?
ewalk
12 years ago
Loger: Follow RC's advice , drop into your local Fire Response Facility. They will advise accordingly amd even offer you a Distributor that they utilize. As for the Ford my 1991 Eddie Bauer had a Recall for the Ignition Switch Change out that was cause of Dash Fires as Rc correctly recall's (no pun intended) ! A few Bad Yrs for Ford as to Recalls lol . Happy no serious injuries or home Damage Bro !
rcmoser
12 years ago
One more thought? you also want to shake it up about every 3 to 6 months. The chemical seperates and the bottom half becomes hard as concrete after a couple of years of setting. Which reminds me I need to give mine a good shaking

When that happens you get alittle puff and it dead! For thoses that have fire extinguishers be a good IDEA to shake them up at least every time you change you FIRE ALARM batteries every 6 months. WE do change our fire alarm barreries Right?????

What Are The Best Fire Extinguishers For Home And Car use?

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What Are The Best Fire Extinguishers For Home And Car use?

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