Patrick Sullivan writes to remind us how important it can be to carry a fire extinguisher. Even the smallest emergency model is enough to put out most common automotive fires. Patrick has used his extinguisher on more than one occasion, hear his stories:
A tow truck on a hot summer day in Chicago backfired at a red light while towing a disabled vehicle. A small fire began under the hood in the carburetor and the driver was using everything nearby to put it out. I had a small extinguisher and gave it to him and it immediately put out the fire and saved his truck. Another time an old car at a stop sign, same problem. I volunteered my small fire extinguisher and 'poof' his old car was still alive.See? I speak truths!
For only a few dollars, a small extinguisher in the glove box could save a lot of money.
We perform around 100 Limo and DOT inspections per year and they are required to carry one in their vehicles. I am surprised by how many of them get pissed off because we will not pass them without an extinguisher present. I know of at least 3 vehicles that have caught fire in past few years and they weren’t complaining then.
Several years ago I stopped at a local convenience to buy a couple of lottery tickets. When I pulled up to the curb, I noticed a distraught woman and her son looking helplessly at the small fire that had started in her stalled older car, which she had just had the starter repaired by a local shop. I just happened to have an old fire extinguisher handy and quickly put out the fire before it could damage her engine or completely burn the car and or explode with great likely hood of serious bodily injury or death–before the fire dept could arrive. I learned the lady had cancer and was on a limited income. She thanked me profusely. I have carried a working fire ext. with me at all times since that memorial convenience store incident. BTW, the lottery tickets were
worthless, but it definitely was a “Good Luck” stop on her behalf! I am so glad I had a fire ext. with me at that time!