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Finding The Best Fire Extinguisher For A Car
Our cars pose considerable potential risks when it comes to fire, not least because they contain some very inflammable materials like petrol and oil being carried around the vehicle, but also because there are potential ignition sources too due to the extensive electrical network of cables and devices. Combine these with an engine which is basically a continuous series of controlled explosions, and there is plenty of scope for a fire spreading and becoming serious in certain circumstances.
Not that we are used to our cars spontaneously bursting into flames, as there are obviously many stringent safety measures in place in all modern cars, but fire still do happen. An obvious cause can be road traffic collisions, where any part of the car can be broken down or disrupted, destroying the normal safety systems. In circumstances like this you can get extra complications with fuel or oil leaking, batteries leaking or exploding (they produce hydrogen, which will easily ignite with explosive consequences in fire).
Hybrid or electric cars obviously have far larger batteries and these pose their own risks in terms of potential for increased damage when fire is involved. Such large battery vehicles ought to have their own safety measures built in to minimise the risk of fire or to ensure early detection.
Car Fire Extinguisher – What Type To Get
Once you have an understanding of the types of fires that you are likely to get in a car, you can begin to identify the type of fire extinguisher that you will need to deal with these possible situations. One of the most common car fires would involve electrical or engine faults, so you need an car fire extinguisher that can be used on these safely and effectively. It is important to tackle and extinguish such fires before they can spread to upholstery, and other combustible materials.
The safest and most effective car fire extinguisher is a dry powder type, because this is the most versatile of the extinguishers in terms of the fires it can deal with. This type of car fire extinguisher is safe for use on electrical fires, petrol, oil and other solvents, as well as upholstery and the usual organic materials.
There are many types of dry powder appliance available, but all that you need to ensure that you get something suitable as a car fire extinguisher is that get a suitable size, which would normally be quite small. The usual size for a car fire extinguisher would be to go for a 1kg appliance. In some countries it is compulsory to have a car fire extinguisher in your vehicle.
Other items you may wish to include as part of your fire safety equipment are a fire blanket and Life Hammer. A Life Hammer is a multi purpose device that can be used to smash car windows and cut through seatbelts. Having such a device to hand could save your life if you were trapped in your car after an accident.
Car Fire Extinguisher – Action In The Event Of A Car Fire
As mentioned earlier, one of the most common types of car fire is going to be an engine fire of some sort. There is a danger with fires in this area, because if you see smoke coming out and then lift up the bonnet, you will allow a rush of air into that area, which can make the fire much worse. It is a safer approach to just release the bonnet, but do not lift it up, then direct the extinguisher into the gap. This should suppress the fire before you lift the bonnet fully up.
If a fire occurs while you are driving, or you suspect one, you should pull off the road, or at least right into the side and switch off your engine. Leave the car as quickly as possible and stay a safe distance away from the car. If you are on a road you may need to direct traffic past your car and keep other people and passers by away from the vehicle too. In general it is better to get in touch with the fire brigade rather than try to extinguish the fire yourself. You should bear in mind that a fire does not just pose a risk due to the intensity and heat of the fire itself. The actual fire is rarely the cause of death in fire related incidents. It is the smoke and toxic fumes that pose the real threat, and it is surprising how quickly you can be overcome, so keep well away from the fire.
Car Fire Extinguishers – Where To Buy Them
You can buy a 1kg dry powder extinguisher on the main Buy Fire Extinguishers page of this website.
