Gloves to use with Fire Extinguisher ?

[SteveJ]

The one time I had an engine fire (and one time is still one too many) I pulled the hood release (secondary latch still holding), grabbed the fire extinguisher, and aimed for the gap. I didn't attempt to release the secondary latch until I was pretty sure the fire was out, so I could survey the damage I caused.

[siteunseen]

That's what I was thinking. It pops up a couple of inches and you could spray the top of the motor where the injectors are.

 

[SteveJ]

10 minutes ago, siteunseen said:

That's what I was thinking. It pops up a couple of inches and you could spray the top of the motor where the injectors are.

 

Or across the wiring harness when the battery shorts out because it wasn't secured properly...Not that I would know about this.

 

[Zed Head]

The engine bay is also exposed from underneath.  Behind the wheels for sure, everywhere if the splash pan is removed.  I'd spray there first.

[siteunseen]

I was working construction in the mid nineties down in the Florida panhandle. We were driving home on the weekends and one of our guys had a fire in a Chevy van. He said it was just starting to burn really good when a truck driver stopped and put it out. They didn't total it out and he was POed at that trucker.

[Redwing]

1 hour ago, SteveJ said:

Or across theinwiring harness when the btuneattery shorts out because it wasn't secured properly...Not that I would know about this.

 

Welllll.....  some are naturally more In tune than others, they need a gentle assist to some truths.  

Thank you ....

[grannyknot]

Great advice I'm sure, but if my car is on fire I'm going to put out or get burnt trying. I keep a good sized fire extinguisher behind the passenger seat attached to the shock tower for easy access. I'm going to have a look for that Flame out foam now that it is available to the public, looks like great stuff.

[TomoHawk]

Let's hear from Redwing.  What do you think of your original question or idea?  Would you revise it or try something else?  Some people think this topic is "silly," but there is NOTHING silly about a car fire or any emergency event, and it is NOT SILLY to be knowledgeable  or prepared.  Even when I earned my BSA Lifeguarding merit badge, we learn it is most dangerous to perform a swimming rescue, but we still learned the right way to do it.

Someone mentioned that gloves are not well suited for 'fire fighting' but if you race, you are required to both have the fire-resistant gloves and have a fire extinguisher  within reach.  Why bother if you only need to escape?  why have a fire extinguisher with you if it is basically useless?

Yes, we should discuss this and other types of emergency events, what to do, essential equipment & action, and how you could just avoid one in the first place.

[Marty Rogan]

Hey Pop's Z,

As a fire fighter, what do you think of Steve J's idea of just popping the initial latch to have a gap to spray an extinguisher into? Would that still let in too much oxygen? I have often wondered about that.

Unfortunately, I can attest to just how scary an engine fire is on a 240Z.  After I had finished a 7 year restoration on my first '73 Z, I was driving north on Rte. 53 near Lisle, IL, when the car started accelerating on its own. At 65 in a 45 MPH zone, I figured  that I couldn't keep going like that, so I reached down and shut it off.  By the time I coasted to the side, I had flames coming out of the hood vents (had a '78 hood on it). I popped the initial latch. Me and a couple other drivers emptied 3 extinguisher on it to no avail.  It was like peeing on a forest fire.  After that I told every one to get back and let it burn.  The fire was so intense that it shut down Rte. 53 for an hour.  Once the fire department put it out, I was standing behind the car talking to one of the cops.  The car was completed toasted all the way up to the back of the doors.  From there back it looked perfect.  The cop said "It's a shame, it looks like you just bought this car".  He couldn't believe it was 13 years old.

I figured out that the center Weber carb stuck wide open and poured gas on the header.  To this day, I would not have Webers on one of my cars.

It was a real sick feeling seeing that car go up in flames.  But I was so grateful to get out unhurt.

It definitely is not worth getting seriously burned over it.  Cars can be replaced.

Marty

 

 

 

 

 

[TomoHawk]

58 minutes ago, Marty Rogan said:

What do you think of Steve J's idea of just popping the initial latch to have a gap to spray an extinguisher into?

 

 

 

 

I don't think it would work for my car.  When I pull the handle, the hood doesn't open much at all;  only enough to get my fingers in to squeeze the release lever.  I don't think I could spray anything through the small gap to make any difference if there was a fire- especially if I was in a panic to do something.

[gundee]

2 hours ago, TomoHawk said:

I don't think it would work for my car.  When I pull the handle, the hood doesn't open much at all;  only enough to get my fingers in to squeeze the release lever.  I don't think I could spray anything through the small gap to make any difference if there was a fire- especially if I was in a panic to do something.

What kind of car are you talking about. Do we know?

[Pop's Z]

13 hours ago, Marty Rogan said:

Hey Pop's Z,

As a fire fighter, what do you think of Steve J's idea of just popping the initial latch to have a gap to spray an extinguisher into? Would that still let in too much oxygen? I have often wondered about that.

Unfortunately, I can attest to just how scary an engine fire is on a 240Z.  After I had finished a 7 year restoration on my first '73 Z, I was driving north on Rte. 53 near Lisle, IL, when the car started accelerating on its own. At 65 in a 45 MPH zone, I figured  that I couldn't keep going like that, so I reached down and shut it off.  By the time I coasted to the side, I had flames coming out of the hood vents (had a '78 hood on it). I popped the initial latch. Me and a couple other drivers emptied 3 extinguisher on it to no avail.  It was like peeing on a forest fire.  After that I told every one to get back and let it burn.  The fire was so intense that it shut down Rte. 53 for an hour.  Once the fire department put it out, I was standing behind the car talking to one of the cops.  The car was completed toasted all the way up to the back of the doors.  From there back it looked perfect.  The cop said "It's a shame, it looks like you just bought this car".  He couldn't believe it was 13 years old.

I figured out that the center Weber carb stuck wide open and poured gas on the header.  To this day, I would not have Webers on one of my cars.

It was a real sick feeling seeing that car go up in flames.  But I was so grateful to get out unhurt.

It definitely is not worth getting seriously burned over it.  Cars can be replaced.

Marty

 

 

 

 

 

Marty, you made my point. Yes, opening the hood even just a crack on the latch allows the fire to escape the confines of the engine compartment usually accompanied by a big "whoosh" of fire. It's sort of like a chimney effect.

 

Cheers, Mike

Edited July 19, 2016 by Pop's Z