Object lesson. Keep a good fire extinguisher!!!

[Kerry]

I was experimenting with the jetting on my Strombergs tonight. I got distracted and didn't tighten up the plugs that cover the jets on one carb. The engine fired up, quit, and then she really fired up. I'm all for flame jobs but not like this. I keep a nice large fire extinguisher by the door and was glad to have it. Got the fire out fast and had no real damage to the car. I had a heck of a mess to clean up from the powder fire extinguisher but it SURE beats the alternative.

If you don't have a fire extinguisher in your shop... GET ONE !!!!

[Tim]

yeah after lighting the bottom of your car on fire acidently even once makes you glad there was on handy lol

[Brad54]

That crap in the extinguisher is EXTREMELY corrosive. (It does beat the alternative, though!)
Make sure none of it got down into your engine.
It's also hell on billet aluminum, but that's probably not much of a concern on this board--just thought I'd throw it out there.
I like CO2 fire extinguishers just for this reason.
Sorry you had to pop it.
-Brad

I just remembered the time my dad had a samll one under the seat in his 1970 Mercedes Deisel 4-dr sedan. He went to slide the driver's seat back and the plastic pull pin broke on the handle, letting the thing go off in the car. With all the windows up and the doors closed. In the parking lot at work.
Bwaahahahahahahaha!

[Kerry]

I thought it was pretty corrosive. None got in the engine. I did wash the car pretty quick. Tried to clean out the shop with an air hose. That crud was in everything and there still is a light dusting many places.

Not sure when I'll get time to clean up proper like. Aside from spending the weekend with some visiting in-laws and getting ready for the DOTD's it might just wait a couple of weeks. I got the worst of it out.

[Tman]

the 54 has an extinguisher, my house has em my dads garage where the T is has em and I passed a tranny fire a couple months back in my late model and reached for the Extinguisher and had none! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Good tip, I will also say add a $15 jobbie to your daily!

[hell_fish_65]

Do not use one of those cheap AutoZone ones though(ARC?). They are not strong enough to put out a fire, just makes it worse.

[C9]

Not gonna get into the whole thing and there's probably a few firemen on the board who can explain it better, but one of the 'tricks' to using an extinguisher is to spray it at the base of the flames.
I've seen a couple of overly excited guys shooting the extinguisher at the top of the flames with no success.

Like Kerry, keep an extinguisher at each end of the garage - preferably a larger one.

You may want to think about carrying two extinguishers in your car.
One easily reached - my 32's is on the floor in front of the seat.
The other in the trunk.

Reason for that - extra protection for one, but mainly for the time you'll empty your extinguisher on somebody else's car (who doesn't carry an extinguisher) and then have to go unprotected since you already used your extinguisher to save an idjit.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[manyolcars]

If you use your extinguisher on a strangers car, you may find that 99% are unwilling to repay you to refill your extinquisher.

[3blapcam]

About 6-7 months ago, my buddy was putting a trans in a car in his shop, fired it up, checking the trans out and didn't notice a fuel leak. It went up, he discharged 3 large extinguishers and it still burned his shop down. He lost everything and had no insurance. It was a car he owned and his race car w/ tens of thousands of dollars dumped into it all burned up. Nothing was insured. He was lucky because he was almost trapped in front of the car, but made it out with just the loss of some hairs. He just opened a new shop where he has bought a Halon fire extinguishing system and already has insurance. Protect your cars, over do it in the safety department, it may save more than your car.

Alec.

[CURIOUS RASH]

<font color="green"> I thought they banned HALON?

http://www.hunc.org/a2.html

</font>

[Hot Rod To Hell]

That article sounds like an EU only deal to me, but I have no idea... something good to find out though!!!

[3blapcam]

I don't know for sure... but for shits and giggles I just called him to verify my facts and he said he bought a Halon fire extinguisher - and it's not really a system, but an extinguisher. I think he said it was $300 for just the extinguisher.

[CURIOUS RASH]

<font color="green">Some of the old military simulators I work on have the HALON systems installed but discharged/deactivated.

I won't work on one that isn't.

I believe HALON works by depleting the oxygen in the air, thus starving the fire.

I would hate to be trapped in the frame of one of those things and have that discharge. </font>

[BigDdy31]

[ QUOTE ]
If you use your extinguisher on a strangers car, you may find that 99% are unwilling to repay you to refill your extinquisher.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just curious, why would you want to get paid for doing a good deed? Or maybe I am misunderstanding your post.

[kentucky]

[ QUOTE ]
Not gonna get into the whole thing and there's probably a few firemen on the board who can explain it better, but one of the 'tricks' to using an extinguisher is to spray it at the base of the flames.
I've seen a couple of overly excited guys shooting the extinguisher at the top of the flames with no success.





[/ QUOTE ]

That is correct. If you want to kill a snake do you cut it's head off or cut it's tail off and then work forwards? I know, shotgun http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The flame is a product of the combustion reaction, along with heat and light. Don't waste your extinguisher on that, go for the base of the fire. Remember this:

<font color="red">
PASS

Pull the pin

Aim the fx at the base of the fire

Squeeze the handle

Sweep the agent across the base of the fire

</font>

I would recommend at least a 10 lb dry chemical extinguisher. Get an ABC extinguisher, not a BC. Most advertised as "garage extinguishers" or "Kitchen extinguishers" are BC. They are not rated for ordinary combustibles (Type A) just flammable liquids(B) and electric(C)

As stated the powder is corrosive so clean up well afterwards esp. electrical components like generators, alternators etc.

You may want to invest in a CO2 extinguisher also, they used Carbon Dioxide gas instead of powder.

Halon is still around just a different type. I think they just changed the formula a little. Very expensive.

Feel free to contact your local FD for more info or possibly an extinguisher class, that's what they get paid for! Most paid departments have a Fire Marshall that takes care of public education. Or PM me fore more.

[Hellbilly_Buzzard]

your new flame job might not be a Stromberg issue but something else. My strombergs have leaked gas all over the place more than once. Did you get a backfire though one of your carbs.

i don't know what fire estinguisher I have, cost $$$ but I never leave home without it.

[Flexicoker]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you use your extinguisher on a strangers car, you may find that 99% are unwilling to repay you to refill your extinquisher.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just curious, why would you want to get paid for doing a good deed? Or maybe I am misunderstanding your post.

[/ QUOTE ]
Not getting paid, just getting the money from them to refill YOUR extinguisher which you so generously used to save THEIR car.


duh http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Kerry]

I'm not sure just what lit it but I did not notice any backfire. It was definitely my bad. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif With the plugs that go over the jets loose on one carb there was gas all over.

My new procedure when doing anything with the carbs is to prime the carbs with my backup electric fuel pump and check for any leaks before attempting to start her up.

[Big A]

Not car related, but topic related...

I watched a guy accidently set his drafting table on fire while cleaning it with thinner. Static from wiping the desk caused a spark from his Mayline (T-square on wires), and WOOF!

Pretty damn entertaining to watch, but kinda sobering to realize how fast something can go up.

[CGkidd]

Halon is still used. We have it in our engine room on our ship. It is probably one of the best agents for extinguishing a fire out there. Halon breaks the chemical reaction on the fire.

[296 V8]

A word of warning.
If you have one in your garage and your wife has been drinking http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif and is mad at you.
Hide that fucker.http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[50dodge4x4]

Might want to add in here that if your extingusher is over a year old, it would be a great idea to have it checked at one of those fire safty places. The dry chem tends to get packed tight after it sets a while, then may not come out when needed. Having an extingusher that doesn't work is worse then not having one, if you don't have one you look for other means of putting out the fire. If you have one that didn't work, you may not have time to look for an alturnitive. UM, guess I better check the one on the shop wall? Gene

[zman]

I think I have four in the shop. Spaced all about just in case...

[Fatstang]

Guys; we need to think about what we are doing and where.
Most of us are working in our gargage at home. And what are we doing? Well, we're welding, grinding doing electrical work, work on fuel systems etc. Where do you store our paint thinner, stripper, carburator cleaner, Oxy/ACY bottles? Ah yes. Also in the garage. Where are our loved ones? On the other side of the garage door.

So let's see what we have got so far.

A source of oxygen.
Many potential sources of ignition.
Many potential sources of fuel.

That's the three componetes it takes for any fire.

Do your self a favor and as others have said... get yourself a 10 lb ABC extinguisher.
A - Wood and paper fires
B - Flamables
C - Electrical
Don't buy an extinguisher from Wally-World or Auto Zone. Buy the extinguisher from people that service and maintain them. It will cost you about $80. Have the extinguisher checked yearly. It's cheap and the folks that sold it to you will check it for you (try having that done to a cheapie). The guy I bought my extinguisher from said most of the people that buy extinguisher from him to have at the house, usally only do so after a fire. Seems like that's just a little too late.

[JimC]

Kerry, your points are well taken on the fire extinguisher.
I feel that you may have another problem other than leaking gasoline.
Something had to ignite the fuel.

Spark plug wire bad, coil wire, wire to the guages? something provided a spark, maybe a hot manifold?

[kentucky]

[ QUOTE ]
The dry chem tends to get packed tight after it sets a while, then may not come out when needed.

[/ QUOTE ]

When we use one we bump it on the ground before discharging to loosen it up. A few whacks with a rubber mallet every few months will keep it loose.

Also, do not buy one with the plastic neck and gauge, they often leak when recharged.

[KCMongo]

Halon is still around. We use it in the big datacenters at work. Any time we pull up any of the floor panels to get to any of the underfloor wiring we have to call Datacenter Operations and have them shut down the Halon(Big yellow rotating lights are on when it's off) A month ago when someone was working under the floor they bumped and damaged one of the sensors allegedly. When the system got switched back on it fired the Halon, it does evacuate the air to put out the fire, but the people who were in the datacenter were able to get out within a couple minutes so no problems with any one suffocating. It's a pretty cool system really. Would be awesome to have in the garage, if you could afford it.
MONGO

[Jethro]

Like Kentucky, I too am a firefighter.A good dry chem abc extinguisher is a must. Any "hot works" you do in the shop(welding,cutting,grinding,heating)is potential for disaster.Make sure your work area is clean and uncluttered and do at least one fire check after you're finished.I check my shop at least three times before I go to bed. I've seen too many big house fires start in the garage.
That said when we go to a car fire ,unless there's alot of fuel spilled on the ground we use water.It's at 90 gals per minute though.But a small engine fire without a huge pool of fuel can be put out with a bucket of water.There's minimal damage from water and it's everywhere.Just be sure the dry chem is nearby if things go thermonuclear.
If things do go for a shit,Get out and call 911. NEVER go back into a burning building. It sounds silly but lots of people do it and pay the ultimate price.There is no"THING" worth losing your life for.Not even a cool old car.

[BELLM]

296 V8 is that advice from a personal experience? Laughed my ass off!!
I'm sure everyone knows this but when filling a portable gas container take it out of your vehicle set it on the concrete or ground by the gas pump before filling it. Gas or diesel. Doesn't happen normally but static electricity from filling any portable fuel container while it is in the vehicle can cause an explosion, just like guy did cleaning his desk started the fire. Have heard of gas stations burning, people getting killed, etc. Wife's step-father was filling 5 gal diesel can back of his truck it blew out of his truck bed &amp; burned.

[OldCarPilot]

[ QUOTE ]
<font color="green"> I thought they banned HALON?

http://www.hunc.org/a2.html

</font>

[/ QUOTE ]

Every airplane has halon on them. Not only in bottles that you spray, but in the cargo compartment as well. Also used to put fires out on engines and APUs.

[oldchevyseller]

the jeep dealer didnt have any full extinguishers when my pickup decided self immolation was the way to end it all http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
it was time,

but the fire dept lit em up with all kinds of fines,the best was the dealer came over to me while it was still smoking , he said ,"i hate to be an ambulance chaser but if you need a car,,,,," http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Crosley]

yep, keep the extinguishers around the shop.

Used one years ago on a car under dash fire, what mess. the car survived though

[296 V8]

[ QUOTE ]
296 V8 is that advice from a personal experience? Laughed my ass off!!


[/ QUOTE ]
Unfortunately yes but it wasn’t like it sounds. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif I can tell you in a pm if you like? Wife would have my sack on the mantel if I told it out in the open. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

[Brad54]

I know a guy with a great car (was on the cover of Hot Rod last year). When they were thrashing to get it done before Power Tour, the fucker caught fire TWICE in one week.

First time: one fuel injection rail was uncapped while they were checking things, and when they hit the ignition the fuel went everywhere, and the coil (mounted INSIDE the passenger compartment on the firewall) arced through the firewall to the block and ignited it. Dry chem.

Later that week, the car was on a chassis dyno getting tuned and the brand new trans grenaded. I guess it was pretty spectacular, too--the owner of Atlanta Chassis Dyno thought he was going to lose the whole shop. Extinguishers put that one out too, though, so everything was okay. And the car made Power Tour three days later. But who the hell looks at tuning a car on a chassis dyno and thinks "Better be carefull here--it could catch fire"?

Worst story? A guy tuning a brand new big block in his Chevelle in an apartment parking lot when the carb backfired and caught fire. He was in the car and didn't see it--the guy walking down the sidewalk did--rushed over and scooped up a handfull of sand to smother the flames and threw it on the carb. With the engine still running. D'oh!

Final tip for extinguishers: those of us that have them in the shop know where we have them--but chances are when the shit hits the fan, the guy we're wrenching with doesn't know where they are. Clearly mark where your extinguishers are--Home Depot sells those "FIRE EXTINGUISHER" arrow stickers that hang on the wall above an extinguisher, and I have a friend who hung his on the wall and painted the whole area red, so there's a big red rectangle with the extinguisher in the middle of it.

-Brad

[BELLM]

'Bout 40 yrs ago put new cam in my 56Chev, 3x2s, MILES of clear plastic fuel line going to a block on the firewall, looked really cool, gas was red back in old days, had leaking carb, no aircleaners on any of the carbs,put dist in off backfired caught gas from leaking carb started melting miles of clear fuel line (musta held about 2 gallons)my dad grabs a water hose puts it out. Tear down the engine again... on the other hand coulda burned down the whole car. Keef extingushers everywhere since then!!

[CURIOUS RASH]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
<font color="green"> I thought they banned HALON?

http://www.hunc.org/a2.html

</font>

[/ QUOTE ]

Every airplane has halon on them. Not only in bottles that you spray, but in the cargo compartment as well. Also used to put fires out on engines and APUs.

[/ QUOTE ] <font color="green">I meant more for a general public use. </font>