Do You Carry a Fire Extinguisher?

"Rev Hang Slows My Roll" (RevHang)
12/03/2013 at 16:13 • Filed to: None

Reading about the Paul Walker crash, I wondered if some of those enthusiasts had extinguishers in their car they might have been able to help. Do you carry one in your car? if so what kind?

DISCUSSION (33)

ddavidn > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:14

Yup. Just a small auto-sized one. It's red. I carry it since my injectors leak. I figure it's a good idea anyway.

CalzoneGolem > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:16

My rat rod has one. I don't know what kind it is. It came with it. It is probably not any good anymore.

His Stigness > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:16

Yeah I just got a small auto one a while ago and stuck it in my trunk. Even though I'm not afraid of my car catching on fire, I figured a little security isn't a bad thing.

His Stigness > ddavidn
12/03/2013 at 16:18

Where did you put yours? I just put mine in the trunk but I want to fashion some type of holster and put it up front, because race car, and because easily accessible.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:18

Once I get the Montego further along, I'll have one most likely.

It's the "can't hurt" mentality. Especially when you're me putting a crapload of power through a tiny V8 in a 45 year old car.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:19

I'm planing on getting one for the Sable. I'll be mounting it on the inside of the trunk lid for extra awesomeness!

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:19

Yup, fire extinguishers are mandated by law in Brazil, so you have to have one and it has to be in workng order. Well, not that anybody checks if they're working or not, but I still try to keep mine in order.

I do drive a Fiat after all...

ddavidn > His Stigness
12/03/2013 at 16:20

Mine has a nice bracket that could be screwed into something useful, but I just keep it on the passenger's seat. Or, in the unlikely event I risk someone's life by letting them be a passenger, I put it behind their seat within my reach. Or in the driver's door pocket. It barely fits.

This is the extinguisher: http://www.firstalertstore.com/store/products…

Jagvar > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:22

No, but I'm starting to think that I should.

Union of Smog Techs of CA > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:28

Nice Halon, also they have full race fire suppression systems

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp?Grou…

ddavidn > Jagvar
12/03/2013 at 16:29

I'm 100% sure you should...

Klaus Schmoll > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:34

Kinja'd!!!

Didn't old Mercs have the option to have one fitted in the passenger footwell?

And no, I don't have one, but I know people who do. It seems like it's worth it. After all, my dad's Alfa 145 died of an engine fire. He had a case of bottled water in the trunk and managed to kill the fire, but the car was a write off anyway. A fire extinguisher probably wouldn't have yielded a different result, but everything is better than watching your car burn to the ground.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:36

I carry one. Not for the reason you mention, although it is a good point. But mostly for self preservation. How pissed would you be if you had an electrical short or some other minor issue while you were driving and were forced to watch your car burn to the ground on the side of the road?

I've seen it happen all too many times along the interstate. These things cost 20 bucks. Go get one and carry it.

His Stigness > ddavidn
12/03/2013 at 16:41

Ah. I would keep it there but I hate loose things in my car because during fast corners or emergency braking things tend to fly everywhere, which gets annoying.

This is the one I got , it was only $13 on Amazon too.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

ddavidn > His Stigness
12/03/2013 at 16:43

Yeah, I don't lose it on fast corners and I don't really emergency brake, but if it falls on the floor that's all right. If I put my glovebox back in, I could keep it in there...

911e46z06 > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:44

All my trucks have them. I should probably put one in the vette, because that's the most likely to end up upside down and on fire.

His Stigness > ddavidn
12/03/2013 at 16:45

I wonder if it would fit in my glovebox? Probably not because it only holds maybe one piece of paper, that's been folded up a million times to reduce its size (it's not that small, but it's not big at all.)

ddavidn > His Stigness
12/03/2013 at 16:48

Really? Mine would comfortably fit, and still hold a small first aid kit, knife, and insurance/registration. Why is your glovebox so small?

Chteelers > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:48

Yes, got a small one from Amazon. Probably wouldn't have done diddly on something like the Walker crash, but I could help a bad situation from going worse. Like, brake pads on fire, electrical fire, spilled fuel, or broken oil line.

I don't have a bracket or anything yet, just place it behind my seat. Probably should get a bracket someday...

Just4GP > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:50

I used to carry one when I had my old S-10 Blazer. Ended up using in on a stranger's car one morning. The guy was very thankful. I'm not sure how much damage was done but by the time we got it out, the fire damage was limited to the engine bay. I think it's time to buy another...

desertdog5051 > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 16:54

In the MG. Because Lucas.

His Stigness > ddavidn
12/03/2013 at 16:55

Wow, you have a trunk for a glovebox.

I have no idea why my glovebox is so small, perhaps its a German thing, just like shitty cupholders are.

And just for reference, my glovebox dimensions are 2.5" tall, 11.5" wide, and 7" deep. It's tiny and only suitable for documents and my iPod (I routed the cable though the glovebox, it's much cleaner that way.)

ddavidn > His Stigness
12/03/2013 at 16:59

That sounds similar in size. I'll pull mine out and make sure I can actually fit that stuff in there. Our gloveboxes should really be the same size. And I need to put mine back in anyway, so nobody kicks the connection box...

Also, mine has nice cupholders.

His Stigness > ddavidn
12/03/2013 at 17:02

Yeah they should be about the same size, but the E46 does have a larger glove box than my W202 so maybe BMW likes bigger glove boxes. But then the E46 does have cupholders that you can't use with the armrest down, so there is that tradeoff.

Now you're just being mean, I wish my cupholders didn't suck so much, but in the grand scheme of things they're actually not that bad.

Kinja'd!!!

ddavidn > His Stigness
12/03/2013 at 17:04

Those cupholders look silly. Good thing I'm never upgrading to the E46 M3.

NaturallyAspirated > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 17:18

I keep a medium-sized dry chemical BC-type extinguisher in my spare tire well. I know that the residue from this type of extinguisher is really corrosive, but I figure it's probably still better than having your car burn to the ground, and Halon extinguishers are expensive.

I've read that most people who have the foresight to carry an extinguisher usually also have cars that are well-maintained enough that they won't catch on fire, so mine is mostly for putting out somebody else's car.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 17:26

I might start carrying one once I do meth, and get the car really built.

Hugh Jazz Can no longer Kinja > desertdog5051
12/03/2013 at 18:00

Kinja'd!!!

Obligatory

McLarry > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/03/2013 at 18:58

No, but perhaps everyone should... where to put it though? I suppose mounting it in the trunk is enough, since having it in reach up front isn't very likely to have helped much in the Carrera GT crash last weekend, but I'm sure there are countless other scenarios where an extinguisher in the front seat would be desirable...

Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight > ddavidn
12/03/2013 at 19:21

Hell Yes! I have a 6lb one in the cabin of my tweaked out XLR-V and when racing bring an extra 10lb one in the trunk. Land Speed Racing can be brutal, peace of mind is cheap when you're carrying 3 gallons of pure methanol (windshield wiper tank) damn close to the exhaust headers. I even carry one in the cubby between the rear seats in my daily driver just in case.

His Stigness > ddavidn
12/03/2013 at 19:43

Haha yeah they do, but as far as early German cupholders go, they're not bad. As long as the cupholder is not in front of the stereo and HVAC controls I'm good, I hate those stupid cupholders.

Dakotacowboy > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/04/2013 at 11:17

I carry a small fire extinguisher in each vehicle. Both of mine came with mounting brackets. In my pickup, it is mounted in the storage area beneath the rear seat. In my car, it is mounted in the trunk. When a new person rides with me I tell them the location of the extinguisher and the rest of my emergency gear. Back in 1998 on my way to get a new car, I witnessed a car on fire along side the road. All passengers were out and appeared OK, but there was no fire department for miles around. Even though it was a small fire in the engine compartment, there was nothing anyone could do. By the time the fire department got there, I'm sure the car was totaled. I bought a fire extinguisher and installed it in my new car as soon as I got home, and I have carried one ever since.

GRawesome > Rev Hang Slows My Roll
12/05/2013 at 05:01

I carry one in each of the older cars now. I was driving my cousins car, 1970 Monte Carlo, and it caught fire while I was crossing a street. Ever since then I carry one in any vintage car.

In the Bronco it's mounted just under the bench seat under the passenger.

In the Land Rover it is in the dash tray.

In the Toyota it is in the Jerry can holder on the exterior of the car.

All 3 are just standard issue fire extinguishers, nothing fancy.