Equipped with your fire extinguisher =
and your
good intentions, please keep in mind that opening up the engine hood if =
you
suspect an engine fire is NOT what you want to do if you want =
to keep your
good looks. Just what the fire needs to kiss your face is a vent =
aimed at
you and fresh oxygen.
Try to aim the fire extinguisher at =
the fire
from below, through a vent, radiator or wheel well. If you =
have to
open the hood to get to a fire that is not at full fury, it would seem =
sensible
to open it in a crouching position, face and body well below the path of =
flames
as you open the hood. Try stopping by your local fire =
department and
ask them how to be effective and safe in this kind of =
situation.
It might be good to get 2 =
extinguishers while
your at it. I have seen people try to put out an engine fire using =
up two
bottles.
Anyway I applaud your sense of good =
will by
trying to help someone, even though it was frustrating. At =
some
level everyone that witnessed your attempt (even through the list) had =
to be
confronted with the question of their own willingness to be =
involved. A
significant question that we could all struggle with before the need
arises....
Henry
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2001 =
6:00
AM
Subject: ENGINE
FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yesterday =
on the way
home from work, i was traveling south on a major local
expressway, =
and
spotted a pickup truck that has just pulled over to the
shoulder =
in the
northbound lanes.. what i thought was steam billowing out =
from under
the hood.. well, it wasnt steam. driver jumped =
out,
popped
hood open, and saw flames..slammed hood.. i pulled =
over.. ran
across median,
asked if he had a fire extinguisher, no, he didnt.. =
neither
did i..
NObody was stopping.. people driving by =
at
80mph, maybe glancing over their
shoulder.. guy is =
panicking
at this point, there is no buildings around,
nowhere to get a fire =
extinguisher.. finally another guy stops, and we =
direct
traffic off the road at the exit.. ran up to a semi who =
was
waiting
there, asked if i could use his fire extinguisher, and he =
said
"sorry, i dont
got one" while i could plainly see a compartment on =
the
side of his rig
marked "FIRE EXTINGUISHER INSIDE' people =
dont care..
at this point, the
flames have totally engulfed the =
cab of the
pickup, and the front tires are
exploding as they burn.. someone =
finally
calls the fire dept on their cell,
but its too late.. there =
is this
huge fireball on the side of the road, and
we get back for fear of =
the gas
tank blowing up.. all we can do is sit
there and watch =
his
truck burn..prolly the only car the guy had.. by the time
the fire =
dept
gets there, there is nothing left of the truck..
moral of =
the
story?
CHANGE YOUR FUEL LINES.. =
CARRY A FIRE
EXTINGUISHER
and remember, people dont give a sh*t, they'll drive =
right
past you and watch
your car burn..
went right out and =
bought a
fire extinguisher at kmart, you'd be suprised,
theyre pretty =
cheap, under
$30 gets you a nice sized one, keep it under your
back seat/etc. =
just
a FYI..
chris