Date:         Sun, 27 Sep 1998 16:51:46 -0400
Reply-To:     Malcolm Stebbins <MSTEBBIN@MSVU1.MSVU.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Malcolm Stebbins <MSTEBBIN@MSVU1.MSVU.CA>
Organization: Mount Saint Vincent University
Subject:      Re: IF Fire What Do?
Comments: To: davidson@SIERRA.NET
Comments: cc: vanagon@vanagon.com
In-Reply-To:  <199809271851.LAA10477@diamond.sierra.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I have a 91 westy syncro and the PO had an engine box fire (Faulty
wiring - for the story search the archives for "FI to Carbs: the
story")

I can tell you that if you have a carbon fiber (plastic) engine box
cover,  this will melt and add fuel to the fire and if you have a
foam bed in the back this too will melt and add more fuel to the
fire, then the Westy cabinets will catch fire and on it goes, flames
shooting up the side air intakes -melting the syncro air intake lines
and melting the air intake lovers/grills and then singeing the camper
top. Not to mention the black rubber/plastic/foam smoke going into
the van.

In my haste to restore my van to its original condition, I put a
'new' plastic engine box cover back on - I think I might have made a
mistake, I think that maybe I should have stayed with the metal
cover and added some asbestos to the underside.

So to get to your question, I think that by the time you get the van
stopped and you get back to the rear of the van, your plastic engine
box cover will be well on its way to melting, and if not, the
opening hooks will be too hot to grab and turn.  I think that I'd:
Empty the van of people,
Empty the van of valuable 'stuff',
Opening the rear lid to drag stuff out. drag out the bed,

I think I’d try and open the lid, but the design of the lid
(especially with the cabinets) makes you lean over the rear to get
it out, and your belly might get hit with really hot flames as you
open the lid. One would need some protection I think.

Spray the fire and hope that other motorists with extinguishers stop
to help.

Since it is all happening in the rear of the van and its noisy back
there anyway - I'd guess that you'd be lucky if you see smoke first,
I'll bet that in many cases it’s the electrical system that goes,
then the van stops, or the fuel stops getting to all cylinders and
it'll run roughly.

It’s really scary.  I just hope that “lightening” will not strike my
van twice.

Malcolm S