What kind do you have in your truck and where did you mount it? I seem to be fire prone these last few years...nearly burnt down the woods at my ranch twice, pasture near my city house once (or twice), garage frying a turkey, and now my patio with my fancy fire pit. Need something to protect the truck! Thanks, Rob
Being in the fire biz, I'd recommend a 5 lb. class ABC dry chemical extinguisher. A 10 lb.'er would be even better, but they take up quite a bit of space. You can buy one as small as 2 1/2 lbs., but their capacity and reach aren't as nice as a 5 lb. unit. Mount it anywhere that's readily accessible; usually in the cab, but that's not always practical. An extinguisher that is rated as "ABC" means that it can put out fires in Class A fires, ordinary combustibles: wood, paper, rubber, etc.; Class B fires, liquid or gaseous fuels: oil, gasoline, etc.; and Class C fires, energized electrical equipment. Once power is cut to the equipment, it then becomes a Class A or B fire, depending on what's burning. To use a fire extinguisher, first make sure you can handle it with an extinguisher. If it's too big of a fire, or even if it's questionable, get everyone out and call 911. If you're confident you can knock out the fire quick, grab an extinguisher. Make SURE you have the right one for the job. DON'T use a pressurized water extinguisher on a liquid-fueled fire (or on a fire involving live electrical equipment). You're just gonna make things worse, and likely get yourself hurt or killed. After you're sure you have the right took for the job, check the gauge (if equipped) to see if the unit is pressurized. Then, pull the pin and test it real quick to make sure it's gonna work. Then, if it's safe to do so, approach the fire and get to within the effective range of the extinguisher you have. Aim the hose or nozzle at the base of the flames. You will only waste time/water/extinguishing agent if you're aiming at smoke or the flickering part of the flames. Squeeze the handle and sweep the nozzle side-to-side at the base of the fire. As the fire decreases in size, you can try to get a little closer to the fire, which makes your extinguisher more effective. If it's a liquid-fueled fire, be very careful doing this, as the vapors from the fuel can reignite without any warning. The acronym we like to teach is: PASS - Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. Sounds like I might need to move in next door to keep a close eye on ya. Be careful out there! Damon
Leave the fires to someone a little less accident prone...... I have had to have a little squirt twice in my truck....both minor carb fires.
Old Fire Ext. I have an old brass Pyrene extinguisher, with the pump handle on top. With the orig. snap release holder. Ive got it mounted on the pass. side kick panel, right below/in front of the heater in my '54. Hope I never have to use it,,,but its there ready to go if I need to.
Great tutorial on fire extinguisher use, Damon. I'd suggest, also, don't get too close, as the pressure from the extinguisher can spread the fire. Also, always have an escape route that doesn't require the fire to be out first! Many people have been trapped by a fire that they could have escaped from a few minutes earlier. (I've been a member of an Industrial Fire Brigade as well). Consider mounting the extinguisher in the bed... Especially if the fuel tank is in the cab. Thanks, Damon, for your professional advice.
I learned a while back that once you make a decision to help, you will be given the opportunity. I started carrying a fire extinguisher in my car a few years ago, and have used it four times -- two truck fires (not mine), one car fire (also not mine), and one brush fire in the neighborhood. One of the truck fires was UPS. Couldn't figure out why my extinguisher wasn't making a dent in it, until I asked the driver where his keys were. In the dash. In the ignition. On. Electric fuel pump continuing to send fuel, even though the engine wasn't running... So if you ever are in a car fire, take your keys. And if you stop to help for one, ask the driver where the keys are.
