The Difference in Fire Extinguishers

drkelly

drkelly

Dipstick who put two vehicles on jack stands
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Location
Oak Ridge/Stokesdale, NC
This is terrible to hear.

In addition to fire suppression systems discussion, maybe some of you 'in the know' can give the rest of us tips on how to properly plumb a fuel system to minimize the chances of this happening. I'm kind of ignorant on that subject. Perhaps a 'Safety' thread of its own is a good idea. I remember several years back when a few people in a row had head injuries that quite a few people, including myself, started wearing helmets. At least on the harder trails.
 
I have a 5.5 lb halatron extinguisher being delivered today. Need to figure out where I'm going to mount it. Also will carry 1 or 2 of the little kiddies. If my shits on fire going for the halatron, somebody else's ill hand them the kiddie :D
 
I was thinking about this the other day. When we had an issue putting out the fire in Harlan I found out there is a specific extinguisher for fuel fires. Seems like it was posted here. Right now I cannot seem to find it. Anyone remember the company?
 
ghost said:
I was thinking about this the other day. When we had an issue putting out the fire in Harlan I found out there is a specific extinguisher for fuel fires. Seems like it was posted here. Right now I cannot seem to find it. Anyone remember the company?
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FIREADE Personal Extinguisher 16 oz
 
There are 5 different "types" of fire. Each one is labeled with a corresponding letter to help identify.

Classifications of fires:
A represents natural material burning so wood, cloth and so forth.
B represents fuel or liquid fires not including cooking oil fires.
C represents electrical fires
D represents metal fires like magnesium (some transmission have alot of magnesium in them)
K cooking oils

Types of fire extinguishers:

ABC extinguisher
Most common one. This one can be used on any fires that fall under the A,B, or C classifications. This is a dry powder extinguisher. Make sure it has pressure and the powder hasn't hardened. Comes in a white or red cylinder.

CO2 extinguisher.
This one is mainly used on class B and C fires. Uses non flammable CO2 gas. You can indetifying these extinguishers by the cone for a nozel and lack of pressure gage.

Water cannon.
Well its a pressurized cylinder with water in it.

Here is a link to more reading about class B fires. Class B Fire Extinguishers: Combustible Gases and Liquids | Strike First USA


I have a limited knowledge about this stuff. If I got a detail wrong please let me know. Hopefully some of the FD guys that have FIP-3005 can add some details.


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This is the second fire extinguisher im planning on mounting in my rig along with my general ABC extinguisher. It has a slightly better rating on B,C combustibles.

First Alert Marine Fire Extinguisher 5 BC | Academy

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I carry a pair of 22 oz fireade 2000 extinguishers

And 3 abc ones. Two smaller one larger.

Had a car wreck behind my house a couple years back.

I grabbed our 10lb abc from the kitchen, jumped our fence and ran over to try to put the fire out.

The car went thru a light pole and into several trees as 75-80mph.

Long story short, I couldn’t put the hot oil/transmission fluid fire out, I could only knock it down enough for my first responder neighbor to check on the driver. It bought us maybe 30s, if that, of time.

It takes more than you think to put out fluid fire.

The fireaide is great as it also cools everything off substantially and helps to prevent reigniting.


 
Mac5005 said:
I carry a pair of 22 oz fireade 2000 extinguishers

And 3 abc ones. Two smaller one larger.

Had a car wreck behind my house a couple years back.

I grabbed our 10lb abc from the kitchen, jumped our fence and ran over to try to put the fire out.

The car went thru a light pole and into several trees as 75-80mph.

Long story short, I couldn’t put the hot oil/transmission fluid fire out, I could only knock it down enough for my first responder neighbor to check on the driver. It bought us maybe 30s, if that, of time.

It takes more than you think to put out fluid fire.

The fireaide is great as it also cools everything off substantially and helps to prevent reigniting.


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I agree the smaller ones won't be able to extingueshe a vehicle fire but just buy time for more extinguishers or for people to escape. Seconds make a major difference between controlling the fire or just knocking it down. Thats why having one within arms reach of the drivers seat is so important to me. Not just in the event of your rig burning but others. Instead of having to get out and go to the back of your rig. You are able to get out with one in hand.


For the cherokee guys under the passenger seat next to the transmission tunnel is a space that is perfect for a small extinguisher. It has a little lip that keeps it from sliding forward. Could it come out in a violent roll maybe but its better than having it out of arms reach.

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Keith1138 said:
This is the second fire extinguisher im planning on mounting in my rig along with my general ABC extinguisher. It has a slightly better rating on B,C combustibles.

First Alert Marine Fire Extinguisher 5 BC | Academy

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Do yourself a favor and take anything made by First Alert off your list. No parts available to recharge and their quality control sucks. I mean, look at the pic at the gauge, its pointed the wrong way.

That one you linked is only a 5BC rated. Even the smallest 2.5lb ABC extinguisher Amerex makes is double that rating at 10BC and a 5lb is 40BC. Get a nicer USA made extinguisher that won't give you trouble down the road. Ive been in this business for 16 years and will be happy to help in anyway.

I personally have 2 2.5lb Amerex ABC mounted to my side by side using aluminum quick release mounts to the cage.
 
LBZ_Duramax said:
Do yourself a favor and take anything made by First Alert off your list. No parts available to recharge and their quality control sucks. I mean, look at the pic at the gauge, its pointed the wrong way.

That one you linked is only a 5BC rated. Even the smallest 2.5lb ABC extinguisher Amerex makes is double that rating at 10BC and a 5lb is 40BC. Get a nicer USA made extinguisher that won't give you trouble down the road. Ive been in this business for 16 years and will be happy to help in anyway.

I personally have 2 2.5lb Amerex ABC mounted to my side by side using aluminum quick release mounts to the cage.
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Thank you for the advice. What mounts are you using to secure them to your cage?

Does the angle the extinguisher is mounted at effect its life span?

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LBZ_Duramax said:
The angle of the extinguisher doesn't matter. Just make sure that you don't end up with a dirt dobber nest in the nozzle blocking it. A good unit will last you years and will be rechargeable. I have a buddy that owns a extinguisher business in Salisbury and Lake Norman if you wanted to purchase one local and have a contact for recharging.

I use these. They work well.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V4VK4S6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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That would be great. Feel free to send me a dm I live between the two.

My plan is to mount a 5 or 10 lb in the back of jeep to the cage. Then mount 2.5 between the front seats.

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Keith1138 said:
That would be great. Feel free to send me a dm I live between the two.

My plan is to mount a 5 or 10 lb in the back of jeep to the cage. Then mount 2.5 between the front seats.

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I have used that same mount with a 5lb but needed 2 bigger hose clamps. Readily available on Amazon also. The 2.5lbs come with a vehicle bracket but the quick releases hold a little better.

SFA Fire Protection, Inc
Salisbury
(Tell him Jeremy with Parrish Fire sent you)
 
Didn’t mean to clutter that other thread. Didn’t think to post a new one either. I need to invest in better extinguishers I guess.
FIREADE Personal Extinguisher 16 oz
This was on my radar last year. I really need to order one or two.
 
LBZ_Duramax said:
The angle of the extinguisher doesn't matter. Just make sure that you don't end up with a dirt dobber nest in the nozzle blocking it. A good unit will last you years and will be rechargeable. I have a buddy that owns a extinguisher business in Salisbury and Lake Norman if you wanted to purchase one local and have a contact for recharging.

I use these. They work well.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V4VK4S6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Click to expand...


I use small flexible plastic vacuum cap inside the nozzle to keep mud and wasps out of the business end of my extinguishers.

I was worried I’d forget to pull it in an emergency and it would get stuck.

That extract thing happened, it blew the vacuum cap directly where I was aiming like the wad from a shotgun shell haha.

34e7f759f7cd3eda048abbd2a8eec80d.jpg


Sorry for the blurry pic, I need a new case.

I check all my extinguishers once a year, remove them, shake them, if the chemical has settled, I smack them with a dead blow to get it moving again.

I always remember in my osha class the instructors drilling us on shaking it violently as we are walking up to use them. They would fail us on our execution test if we didn’t check that in putting out our test fire.
 
The question I’ve always had, and not sure there’s a standard answer due to so many variables, but how much/many extinguishers are enough. I generally have a 2.5lb in the garage and a 5lber in the kitchen. Never even heard of the FireAde before, so looks like I’ll be wanting to add a few of those for sure.
 
UTfball68 said:
The question I’ve always had, and not sure there’s a standard answer due to so many variables, but how much/many extinguishers are enough. I generally have a 2.5lb in the garage and a 5lber in the kitchen. Never even heard of the FireAde before, so looks like I’ll be wanting to add a few of those for sure.
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I have 2 5lbs in the garage - 1 near the door to the house, the other on the oer side by my bench. A 2.5lb kitchen one in the kitchen, one on the back porch, plus whats in the vehicles.

I think in the 4runner I had a 5lbs ABC and a 2.5lb Halon BC.

The smaller FireAide canisters will fit in a glove box, I have on in my 93 pickup.
 
UTfball68 said:
The question I’ve always had, and not sure there’s a standard answer due to so many variables, but how much/many extinguishers are enough. I generally have a 2.5lb in the garage and a 5lber in the kitchen. Never even heard of the FireAde before, so looks like I’ll be wanting to add a few of those for sure.
Click to expand...

I carry 3 - 2.5 lbs abc and 1 22oz fireaide

My dad carries 2-2.5 lbs and 1 5lbs and 1 22oz fireaide.

This is mainly so we have plenty, and even if we have to use 1/2 on a random person on the trail we still carry enough? to finish the weekend.

Pretty much everyone in my group has 2/3 2.5 lbs on their rig while wheeling, I don’t think anyone doesn’t have at least 1.


Here is another thought.

When there is a crazy obstacle in the woods, and you are going to park and walk up and watch people beating on this obstacle and rig, whether random or in your own group;

Before you walk up, grab an extinguisher and carry it with you.

It’s a helpless feeling seeing a fire start and knowing your extinguishers is 50’ or 50yds away.

It’s a good habit to develop and handy to keep one nearby.

Even if it’s a small one, it’s handy to buy time.
 
Like I have posted before. I saw 5 extinguishers used on a small fuel fire. I have 2 on my rig and will add a fire aid near me too. The whole idea IMHO is to buy time to get out. Rigs can be replaced. Lives can't.
 
For anyone’s garage/home I would look into a “cold fire” agent. We have a couple of the pressure water extinguishers filled with cold fire agent. It is proven to be extremely effective at extinguishing brush/trash fires. I have one for using when I’m burning limbs in case it gets into the grass and starts spreading.


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