Fire Extinguishers: Why we should all have them

[=Resurected280=]

Hey Everybody,

I had a little "experience" this weekend that I think I should share with everyone here, even though it doesn't directly involve a Z car. Friday night me and my friends were out doing our usual screwing around with automobiles (muscle cars, I'm the only one with a non-american car ). Anyways we decided to set up and video tape a burnout with two cars side by side which we've done plenty of times before.

The two cars that lined up for this were my friend's '86 Monte Carlo SS (383ci, it's never been dyno'd but it pulled an 11.8 in the 1/4 last time it was at the track), and my other friend's '73 Corvette (410hp 350ci, just broken in 6-speed T-56 tranny, line-lock and electric exhaust cut-outs, which are an unbelievable amount of fun:devious: )

Anyways, I was in the Monte and we did our burnout and pulled away, but my friend's Vette's tires were just spinning and stopping and spinning and stopping. As we pulled away though there was a really loud bang and a fireball shot out the bottom of the car. At this point we went off to get a truck and trailer since the Vette definitely was going anywhere, but about half way there we got the call that the Vette had a small fire going and they couldn't put it out, this was then followed by three cars screaming around town looking for a fire extinguisher at 11:30 at night. It took us about 15 minutes to find an extinguisher and get back to where the car was, but by this time it was too late to put this fire out with anything other than a fire truck and even then the car was still a total loss.

In case youre wondering what caused this though, the clutch, (which was a stock '01 Camaro clutch I believe) failed to grab, spun, and then overheated and either it or the flywheel exploded. The clutch shot off the ground and then out the right fender and the pressure plate shot out the left fender (I have no idea how this didnt hurt or kill anyone). The tranny's input shaft was bent at about a 45 degree angle from this. Also when this happened fire came up through the dash vents into the cab of the car. I attached a couple picture's of where this happened, one it of the 1" deep divet the pressure plate left in the pavement.

Anyways this was a big lesson learned for me because my friend poured uncountable hours and at least $20,000 into this car and he now has a melted pile of fiberglass in his backyard to show for it. We've determined to the best of our knowledge that the fire probably started behind the dash so we may not have been able to stop it anyways, but we didnt get to try either.

I'm sure this has been talked about before, but believe me, this sucks dont let it happen to you. (I went out Saturday and bought a fire extinguisher for both of my cars)

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[sblake01]

You're saying that the only lesson you learned from that experience is that we should all carry a fire extinguisher?

[alissa280z]

Did you get a fire extinguisher approved for car use? My mother's friend had one explode in her car during summer from the heat. Don't want to ruin a car that way!!

[=Resurected280=]

Yes I did get one approved for automotive use, I've heard of them popping in hot cars before too.

So far as the lessons learned thing, I'm not trying to sound macho or anything but living is only living to me if you take risks and have fun. To put this in perspective I also ride snowmobiles and motorcycles (see my signature) both of which are MUCH, MUCH more dangerous than driving a car on the street. And besides, how many people here can honestly say they have never done a burnout or anything dangerous in a car?

The reason I posted this was to warn others of a concequence of this that I experienced first hand.

[Walter Moore]

I hear that a high percentage of car fires are electrical in origin. (Which is easy to understand if you are familar with how severly under-sized auto wiring is in general...)

A friend of mine claims that he has "put out" several car fires with a pair of huge wire cutters, by just cutting the battery cable. (I am talking here about the large two handed cable cutters that are used for the big industrial 21 - 60 conductor cables, the ones that could cut off your hand...)

Of course in any event, once the fuel line catches your only real option is to run away REALLY fast.

[PrOxLaMuS©]

ohh i've had a fire extinguisher mounted next to the center console on the passenger side for years.. and YES ive had to use it once.. with a bad fuel leak spraying on the manifold and I didnt see it

[Z Kid]

Just a point of interest, if you have a dry powder extinguisher mounted laying on its side, its practically useless, it will only discharge about 1/4 or less of its powder, unless you shake and tap it to get the powder down to the bottom for about 30 seconds or more. So whilst it may be great to have the extinguisher lying down in an out of the way place, its almost (but not quite) as useless as not having one at all.

Chris

[Hrududu]

I have one behind the drivers seat. I decided it would be a good idea after the little rubber links on my fuel rails kept splitting last summer and dripping gas on my exhaust manifold. I plan on switching out the fuel rails with the ones off my 79 motor since it doesn't have the rubber links.

[1 Bravo 6]

Resurected 280,

Thanks for the warning Derek, I've been meaning to buy an extinguisher but it seems that when I think of it I'm nowhere near a place I can buy one.

We all know the dangers of car fires.

However, I must agree with sblake01. The need for an extinguisher isn't the only lesson to be learned from your mates unfortunate loss of his car. I hope you have your drags where some poor innocent isn't going to drive across your path.

"How many people here can honestly say they have never done a burnout or anything dangerous in a car" you ask. Me for one. But then, I was never taught to drive, I was Trained to. Past experiences have taught me to use a light foot on the accelerator.

I appreciate your taking the time to remind us of the need to have an extinguisher.

Rick.

:devious: :devious:

[mazingerz1976]

Here in my country it is obligatory to carry a five pounds multipurpouse extinguisher in the car, it is a big can, but sometimes is not enough and the real problem is that the people don't know how to use it correctly.......

[=Resurected280=]

1 bravo 6,

I'm glad you appreciated the warning, that was the point I was trying to make by starting this thread. :-) I wasnt trying to start a debate about driving habits.

[TomoHawk]

I keep one of the new water-based fire extinguishers in my car, plus a halogen one. the water-based one is from http://www.fireadesource.com/. You can even buy the concentrate and make your own.