Date:         Fri, 30 Aug 2002 12:42:30 -0500
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fire Extinguishers
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

> >> > What is the best type of extinguisher for our Vanagons?
>
> >From this thread, and others in the past, I have decided that the best
> fire extinguisher is several bags of sand.......
>
> John

Many dry powder extinguishers use sodium bicarbonate (sodium hydrogen
carbonate) because it decomposes when heated to produce carbon dioxide
which displaces oxygen, smothering the fire.
  This does not work on magnesium fires because magnesium atoms can suck
the oxygen right out of the carbon dioxide molecule and keep burning.
So for magnesium try sand or just get out of the way.
  If you look in the pool supplies section at a home center, etc., you
can find large containers of sodium bicarbonate "pH adjuster" for a
reasonable price.  Or you can buy lots of baking soda.  :-}

Larry A.