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Fire extinguishers - Image of HK Monaro on fire
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Looking at images of HK Monaros and noted couple of them showing a Warrick Yellow car with an under bonnet fire. Guessing it may have started by a fuel leak. In these images this fire was being fought from the right hand front guard position with what looks like one or possibly two, 1 kg fire extinguishers. Don't know what the outcome of this fire was but it wasn't looking good in one of the images (but not sure of the image sequence)
My understanding that if you are going to extinguish an under bonnet fire (taken that engine has stalled or has been turned off - no more fuel supply) is that you pull the bonnet catch, lift the bonnet only enough to insert the fire extinguisher nozzle and then discharge the extinguisher from that position. Is this correct?
A few more questions:
Does anyone have any additional comments on the correct fire fighting procedure for this situation (or experience in this area)
Would a 1 kg extinguisher put out a reasonable fire in this area?
What size extinguisher do other forum members have fitted to their cars?
I am Interested to find out more on what others have to say or additional advice on this topic.
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Having had this happen in the past about 15-20 years back, I can give you our experience.
In-law's old ZK Fairlane - fuel line from the pump to the carb developed a split on the welded join. Pressurised fuel sprayed at the dizzy whilst cranking, causing a big bang, and flames out the grille. Luckily it didn't start, or it would have fed the fire in a big way (as it was, gravity took over & kept it going with fuel draining downhill from the tank, as the rubber line from the hard line to the pump burnt through).
Brother-in-law (a young teenager at the time) went to lift the bonnet, only to be tackled by the father-in-law who knew better.
2kg powder extinguisher on the garage wall was what we needed to put it out, and it hadn't been leaking that long either (and a lot of the fuel was dripping onto the ground below the car, not pooling on the manifold like it does when leaking around the carby).
As you described - cracking the bonnet & aiming the nozzle in the gap is the correct method, and it works surprisingly well, even when the operator is in a bit of a panic.
In the case of the Fairlane, if that was an EFI car, with much higher pressures, I doubt we would have been able to contain it & get it out, as the fuel has 60psi or more behind it in an EFI car.
I have stopped to help someone who had an engine bay fire develop on the freeway. A single 1kg extinguisher, which most would carry in the car as a safety precaution, wasn't enough to put it out properly, but then the fool had kept driving for a bit in an effort to "blow the flames out" rather than pull over at the first sign of smoke.... |
Cheers,
Mick
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Judge a successful man not on how he treats his peers, but on how he treats those less fortunate. |
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With a VW Beetle, you just open the lid enough to empty the extinguisher in there, and keep the lid shut. As you say some fuel tanks can gravity feed. This is why a simple fuel solenoid wired to the ignition power, will stop fuel flow whenever the ignition is off. |
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The problem with fuel fires is the type of exstinguisher. If you have a CO2 then you have to completely flood the area and get the entire thing out, otherwise it will come back around the back and re ignite. With a dry chemical it can rest on the fuel and stop it re igniting, but if you disturb the fuel it can re ignite.
Warren
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Car fires car be difficult to extinguish due to fuel load & fuel supply including fuel, oils, plastics, electricity etc. Dry powder is the most efficient to carry as an extinguisher due to size, but accurate use at the source/seat of the fire & enough capacity to extinguish is paramount. As far as releasing bonnet, (without correct protection of full fire fighting suit & breathing apparatus), minimal amount is preferred. Electric fuel pumps must be run on a cut off timer if motor stops for any reason. Without one, kiss your car goodbye in the case of a fire. Once a fire establishes in a vehicle, after only a minute or two, a dry powder will be useless. Some car fires will require a few hundred litres of water, if not more, to extinguish with accurate use including breathing apparatus & full structural fire fighting ensembles' Edited by user Saturday, 11 April 2015 1:26:21 AM(UTC)
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utility8
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