Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:20:58 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject: Re: Fire Extinguishers
In-Reply-To: <469BD2A2.1000904@cox.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Doug,
Sorry to hear about the fire and glad the van was saved. Hope the damage was not too great, what year and model do you have? Do you need any parts to get it going again? Your story brings up a good point about dry chemical extinguishers failing when needed. Years ago it was suggested to me that one should mount/store their dry chem. extinguishers in a horizontal position to reduce the amount of compaction that occurs and to regularly shake them to keep the chemical loose. Not sure if he is correct but on the surface it seems logical, I have been fortunate and not had to find out the hard way. When we hit the road I supplement the van's extinguisher with our large one from the house. It takes up more space but I figure two are better than one especially on the remote roads we travel where the van would be a melted puddle before another vehicle came by.
Mark in AK
----- Original Message -----
From: Doug <vanagons@COX.NET>
Date: Monday, July 16, 2007 3:43 pm
Subject: Fire Extinguishers
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Folks,
> Do you have a fire extinguisher in your Vanagon?
> How old is it??? Do you trust it?
>
> Unfortunately, I had an engine fire in my newly-acquired van.
> No, it was not caused by leaky fuel lines this time! But it might as
> well have been.
> Engine died, and smoke was pouring out of the back of the van!
> Grabbed the extinguisher from behind the driver's seat, and ran to the
> back of the van.
> Cracked open the engine lid, and was met by flames shooting out at me.
> Pointed the fire extinguisher at the back, and pulled the trigger.
> Nothing! One tiny puff of white powder sort of trickled out.
> Freaking, I closed the engine cover tightly, and started to beg for
> intervention, if you know what I mean.
> At that point all I could do was move away, and call 911.
> Not that I want to wrap this up easily, but the fire self-extinguished
> when the coolant expansion tank exploded, spraying coolant on the
> fire!
> Please, if you don't have an extinguisher in the van, get one!
> If you do, how old is it? Would you trust your life to it?
> Would it take up that much space to have a second one handy in the
> van?
> We all hope for the best, but try to be prepared for the worst.
>
> Thanks for listening,
> Doug in CT
>
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