Gloves to use with Fire Extinguisher ?

[Redwing]

On Monday, July 18, 2016 at 10:26 AM, TomoHawk said:

 

Hi,

With my 280, I would prefer to save It IF possible without harming myself.  But since Ive been reading here, I'm not going to open my hood.  I'll try to shoot the extinguisher thru the radiator.  If thats not possible I'll just watch my dream Z be destroyed.

But, I am going to get some gloves, leather and fire resistant, to bungee cord attach to my fire extinguisher.  I plan on getting the gloves that are easy on, thin and flexable.  In case they are needed In some way during an emergency..

I am thankful I posted about the gloves.  Without that, a lot of valuable Information would have not been shared.  I appreciate all the answers and thank you for sharing them.

Z.......onward.....

Jai

[Chickenman]

14 hours ago, TomoHawk said:

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.

To answer your questions about gloves. I was commenting more on the suggestion of Welders gloves which are too clunky and clumsy to be used on small " Automotive style " ( 5 - 10 BC ) fire extinguishers. Pulling that tiny pin and operating the small handle is extremely difficult with the wrong  gloves. "  Mechanics "gloves may seem to be a good idea at first... until you look at the materials they are made of, which is usually Nylon or some derivative that will melt on to your skin and cause horrible burns if exposed to fire. Melted nylon or Plastic burns are just absolutely horrid.

Professional Fire Fighters already have all of their equipment " On " before even arriving at a fire. Their gloves are large and  bulky, but their equipment is designed to be used with those type of large gloves.

As far as Road Racing

.Any professional or even SCCA Road  Race car use complete Fire Suppression Systems permanently plumbed into the car. The driver or Marshal  hits a big Red button on the Dash, Cowl  or Steering wheel and the suppression system actuates. There is no fumbling about with tiny lock pins and handles etc. Plus we have fully equipped and trained  Marshals with fire extinguishers ready to go at each corner.

That being said, it certainly wouldn't hurt to have a set of proper Racing Nomex gloves ready to go and easily accessed. But I think Welders Gloves or Mechanics gloves are just the wrong tools for the job.

And of course..... you should not be getting close enough to the fire to need gloves on even a SMALL automotive style fire. If you're close enough to need gloves... you're already too close. And what about your arms, your face, your torso,  your clothes?  You're not a fully fire suited  Corner Marshal reaching in to pull an unconscious driver out of a flaming car. Don't put yourself in harms way is the #1 rule.  Just my .02c

 

Edited to emphasize the importance of getting proper flame proof gloves.

 

Edited July 19, 2016 by Chickenman

[Chickenman]

Summit Racing and Jegs have a large selection of Fire resistant gloves in various price ranges and safety standards.

https://www.summitracing.com/int/search/department/safety-equipment/section/fire-retardant-clothing/part-type/driving-gloves?N=4294951274%2B4294943313%2B4294895529&SortBy=Default&SortOrder=Ascending&retaillocation=int

 

[Chickenman]

This is a very good subject. For under $500 you can buy a Fire Suppression system to protect your investment:

https://www.summitracing.com/int/search/department/safety-equipment/section/fire-extinguishers/part-type/fire-suppression-systems?N=4294951274%2B4294951080%2B4294809008&SortBy=DisplayPrice&SortOrder=Ascending&retaillocation=int

[siteunseen]

I remember wrecking my dirtbike in the middle of the woods and it catching on fire.  I pulled my helmet off and used it to scoop up mud to put out the fire. 

 

[Marty Rogan]

2 hours ago, Pop's Z said:

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

Thanks Mike, that's what I wanted to confirm.

[Redwing]

1 hour ago, siteunseen said:

I remember wrecking  saysty dirtbike in the middle of the woods and it catching on fire.  I pulled my helmet off and used it to scoop up mud to put out the fire. 

 

HA!   Now I understand why on your personal page , you say:

"MY NAME IS MUD!"

Snicker...

Jai

[gnosez]

Fire suppression is the way to go. In the race car 3 nozzles are directed at me, one into the fuel cell box and two in the engine bay.

The street car has three in the engine bay and nothing else.

You need to remember to pull the safety pin for it to work, however.

[26th-Z]

Yes, Tomo, I DO think this conversation is silly because you guys seem to think you are going to play firefighter and "protect yourselves" with gloves.  Send me a postcard from the Darwin Awards, will you?

Fire suppression systems would make for a great topic, but again, don't think you are just going to push a button and everything is Ok.  This is how well one of those systems worked at the Runoffs last September.

[TomoHawk]

10 hours ago, Chickenman said:

Summit Racing and Jegs have a large selection of Fire resistant gloves in various price ranges and safety standards.

 

I can just imagine (not really) Redwing driving down the street in a summer outfit, wearing Nomex racing gloves on the way to the DairyQueen for a vanilla sundae...

BTW-  Since someone made the suggestion, what specification of Nomex glove would you choose?

Edited July 20, 2016 by TomoHawk

[Redwing]

Hahaha, this is cute.  You have it about half right.

Driving down the street for my favorite,  a Wendys Vanilla Frostee!  I had one today, when melting in the heat leaving a Dr. appiintment.  Alas, no Nomex Racing Gloves tho.   

I have seen quite a lot of them on Amazon, whilst pursuing for some, less expensive than others.

Try a Frostee, warning It'll give you a brain freeze if not careful.

Have fun,

Jai

Edited July 20, 2016 by Redwing

[TomoHawk]

11 hours ago, Chickenman said:

Summit Racing and Jegs have a large selection of Fire resistant gloves in various price ranges and safety standards.

 

I'll presume  fire resistant gloves aren't something you'd wear to the academy awards celebration, but  if you were trying to "be prepared" for an emergency while driving, is there something that you actually could wear on the road or highway? I get the impression you might overheat yourself if you were to use them on a hot summer day.