Years ago, on a freeway in Hawaii, I was doing 65-70 MPH in my '64 =
bus when
the "Sweat fit" connector at the fuel pump pulled out. One of =
those pumps
can spray a whole lot of fuel before one can shut down from that =
speed.
I had 2 fire extinguishers which I exhausted and two trucks stopped =
and
wasted their extinguishers. The fire continued to blaze until the =
fire
department arrived and did their thing.
The '64 bus gas tank is just forward of the engine and will gravity =
flow
'til empty with an open line.
I still believe in carrying extinguishers but that was one of those =
times
when nothing was going to work .... short of a fire truck.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2001 =
10:35
AM
Subject: Re: ENGINE
FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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 =