Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

I post this under Vehicle Accessories as I believe this is a must.

My experience: On Saturday on my way to the dam a Toyota Camry suddenly caugh alight. I was driving behind it at about 110km/h, next moment smoke poured from the enige compartment. The owner had no idea what happened or what to do, he was just standing around.

After I instructed him and his wife to remove all their belongings from the car (they were on holiday) I opened the bonnet. I was concerned that the sudden addition of oxygen will cause a flare-up, so I sat on my heels and as soon as the bonnet went up I emptied my fire extinguisher. It took no more than 3 to 4 seconds to empty, but the fire was out. About 30 seconds later the fire started again. Luckily another car stopped and they had about a litre of water and I used that to put the fire out.

Lesson: If you don't already carry an extinguisher in your car, buy one today! Luckily I didn't have to use it on my own vehicle, but was reminded how quickly a vehicle can catch fire.

Any idea on size and make?

I see these little units lying around for a few bob, and wonder whether they will put out a cigarette...

Anton

A couple of points.

Fire extinguishers should (IMO) be a legal requirement (I have never used my fire extinguisher on my own vehicle but I have used it on other vehicles)
Should be a minimum of 2.5kg

Another thing, while you did well Jonny, you must never open the bonnet. Empty the fire extinguisher through the radiator.

I have heared of more than one petrol vehicle that caught fire while parked in long grass that catches fire off the heat of the exhaust system. So beware - never park in long grass, and if you HAVE to, be ready for a possible fire. Try keep the undercarriage from touching dry vegetation (especially grass).

Always make sure you passengers knows where the emergency equipment is - you may be incapacitated, and their prior knowledge can save your life!

Anton

SimonB wrote:Another thing, while you did well Jonny, you must never open the bonnet. Empty the fire extinguisher through the radiator.

Although I agree with Simon on the principle, the practice does not always make this possible.

eg

• I had an engine bay fire in my Gen1. The (rubbish) Aisin/Toyota auto box overheated, boiled the ATF, which escaped through the filler tube, onto the red hot turbo ... Whoosh! Emptying any number of fire extinguishers through the radiator would not have killed the fire, because
  • very little extinguishing powder/gas would go through the radiator itself
  • there is little free space next to the radiator and the head lamp assemblies to aim the fire extinguisher through.
  • the distance from the radiator to the fire was large, with an engine in between.
  • the fire got more than enough oxygin from underneath
• I don't know what Camri that was, nor where the fire started, but if it was the V6, there is no ways that the contents from the fire extinguisher will reach the back of the engine bay, simply because the engine bay is so full.

My MO would be:

• kill the engine (to ensure that the running engine does not feed petrol onto the fire (if it is fuel related)
• get the people out of the vehicle
• get personal effects out
• try to figure out where the fire is burning (front, rear, left, right ?)
• open the bonnet only enough to reach the fire.
• try to kill the fire, if you fail, close the bonnet again, and hope that somebody else pitches with a fire extinguisher.
• water is usually not very good at killing engine fires, but copious volumes of sand/soil is often successful
• if anybody has a blanket or similar available, drape it over the grill and air vents, to try and smother the fire

Another thing, while you did well Jonny, you must never open the bonnet. Empty the fire extinguisher through the radiator.

Agreed Simon, I looked through the radiator opening but couldn't see flames. I was very reluctant to open the bonnet, because I knew the danger. I own a similar Camry (1994 220 SEi) so luckily I knew where the bonnet latch was. The plan was to just open it slightly, but the gas struts opened it all the way as I lost grip of the hot bonnet.

I still don't know what caused the fire. It wasn't petrol, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to stop the fire. The only damage I could later see was the radiator hose at the top burst and the fan belt was broken and gone. I could also see the aircon compressor, which runs on the fan belt was broken. The pulley leaned against the bodywork. Don't know which fluid caused the fire? Anti-freeze, hydraulic fluid, aircon gas? Your thoughts? All the plastics on top of the engine was on fire.

Another big concern after the fire was out, was the battery exploding so we kept clear for a very long time.

I've actually got 2 fire extinguishers,
a 2.5Kg, and a second 1kg extinguisher. I think for the price, R199 & R95 respectively, it is most definately a must.
Although, I must say, If I were to go on an extended overland trip, then I would also mount a 5Kg on the roofrack.

One can never be too safe, and for the price, its nothing compared to ANY fire damage.

My argument with swambo when i bought mine: "I might not need it but someone else next to the road might"
now we dont travel anywhere with out it.