Car Fire Extinguisher
Car Fire Extinguisher Pointers

A car fire extinguisher can mean the difference between a few properly extinguished blazes and your car exploding in the middle of the highway.

This then makes them an essential addition to any responsible car owner’s list of on-the-road tools. Yet many car owners do not even bother to research about basic information regarding fire extinguishers, much less those designed for on-the-road use.

Make sure to keep these pointers in mind in order for you to stay safe as you drive around town:

Obtain proper fire extinguisher training

A few seconds are enough for a fire to do some serious damage to you or anyone else riding the car. Learning how to properly handle a fire extinguisher is essential in quickly and efficiently putting out a fire.

This is especially so when you want to handle car fires, as you have to be trained to properly aim the fire extinguisher at critical components of the vehicle. You also need to know when a fire is manageable and when you need to bail out of the car. These are essential basics in handling car fires, and will be discussed in greater detail during training.

Store fire extinguishers properly

While you do not need to place fire extinguisher cabinets inside your car, you do need to secure the extinguisher in a secure but accessible spot.

Placing the extinguisher under the seats is a good idea, but you have to make sure they are secured with straps to prevent them from rolling around. Constantly shaking about pressurized containers may prove to be fatal, especially if the canister is heated because of proximity to the car’s heated components.

Stockpile the right fire extinguisher

Fire extinguishers come in many types and sizes, not all models are ideal for controlling car fires.

A water extinguisher may be okay for wood and paper fires, but will prove to be insufficient and even dangerous against oil and electrical fires. Make sure that your extinguisher can handle Type B and Type C fires in order to properly handle most car fires. This is because fire extinguisher types vary, and you need to use the right extinguisher to control both oil and electrical fires.

Escape when necessary

Some car fires can still be controlled, but others will prove to be too dangerous even if you have an extinguisher with you.

If the fire is reasonably small and easily extinguished, then by all means bring out the extinguisher and put it out. But if the fire has reached the fuel lines or if a fire erupts while you are on the road, you may not have enough time to react. Play it safe and bail if you do not feel you can handle the fire anymore.

Place an indicator for the extinguisher

Fire extinguisher signs were created to indicate where an extinguisher is, and is still essential even in the close confines of a car.

You may know exactly where the extinguisher is in your car, but that may not be the case for your passengers or other drives. A subtle but easily noticed sign indicating where the extinguisher is will help immensely in an emergency situation, as it will mean less precious seconds spent searching for the extinguisher.