[Off Road Driving] Vehicle Fires

[Disco]

ENGINE COMPARTMENT

These fires usually occur when the fuel line cracks and leaks onto a hot engine.

* Immediately turn off the engine.


* Engine fires usually require two people. One to hold the fire extinguisher, the other to open the hood. The fire will flare up as fresh air hits it. Spray the fire extinguisher across the base of the flames until the fire is out. (It is important to get the hood open fast. If the fire burns through the hood release cable before you get it open, there’ll be no way to get at the fire.


* Don’t try to put out an engine fire by spraying the extinguisher through the radiator or wheel wells – that won’t work and just wastes time and your fire extinguisher. You’ve got to get at the base of the flames.
* If you are fighting a vehicle fire, stay out of the “zone of danger”. This is a cone shaped area behind the vehicle. If the gas tank explodes, it sends a tremendous blast out from the rear of the vehicle. This can be lethal for 20-30 meters (60-90 feet) behind the vehicle.

* Be careful not to drive through or park in tall dry grass. The hot catalytic converter can set the grass alight, setting fire to the vehicle as well as the surrounding area/bush.

* Static electricity stored in a jerry-can that has been carried around on a vehicle with a plastic bed liner, or one that’s carried on the roof of a vehicle, where highway speeds cause the friction of the air against the container to build up a charge, or a plastic jerry can, could ignite fuel as it is being poured into the gas tank. Be sure to ground the container before pouring out the fuel.
Be aware that a nearly empty fuel container is more dangerous than a full one.

UNDER THE DASH

These fires are caused by electrical shorts.
After the fire is extinguished, disconnect the battery immediately, or the short circuit will start up the fire again. If a dry powder extinguisher has been used, clean up the powder as much as possible as the powder will ruin computers and corrode electrical connections.

UPHOLSTERY

If you have upholstery fire in the back seat, smoother the fire with the extinguisher, but then pull the back seat out of the vehicle. The fire will probably still be smoldering deep inside the seat. Open the upholstery to extinguish the fire thoroughly.