It is usually unnecessary to have a car fire extinguisher that weighs more than five pounds, but in the case of commercial vehicles (which must meet specific codes) and highly modified cars, larger sizes may be required. These are light enough to handle in a hurry and compact enough to fit securely in your car. For the average consumer, a two-pound fire extinguisher is more than enough to fight a small car fire. The size of a fire extinguisher is determined by its weight. Plus, dry powder fights electrical and fuel accelerants. The fire repellent inside of these is rated to fight most of the fires listed above. For this you will want a fire extinguisher that contains a dry powder. It’s possible to use one extinguisher to protect your upholstery, plastic and wood components as well as any engine bay issues that may arise. That’s why you need a car fire extinguisher that handles a multitude of situations. From the gas, oil and electrical wires, you have a lot of risk around you. These use a non-conductive agent to help isolate the fire event.
These may contain mono-ammonium phosphate or sodium bicarbonate.Ĭlass C fire extinguishers – designed for electrical fires. These contain mono-ammonium phosphate.Ĭlass B fire extinguishers – designed to put out flammable liquids like oil, gasoline, or paint. Instead, look for one that has a UL Rating that is suitable for car fires.Ĭlass A fire extinguishers – designed to put out ordinary combustibles like fabric and organic materials. Those are designed primarily for structural fires like homes and may do more harm than good when fighting an automotive fire. Some of the automotive fire extinguishers discussed in this article are designed for electrical systems as well.ĭo not get a generic fire extinguisher from a local store. But when a modern battery pack catches fire, those fires have been known to last for a long time and reignite without warning.
With the sophisticated design of car batteries, while there have been many publicized instances of electric vehicles catching fire, recent National Fire Protection Association data has shown that hybrid and electric vehicles may actually be less susceptible to car fires than their internal combustion counterparts.
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This myth is often perpetuated by followers of a large automotive television series where a pivotal character crashed a battery-powered supercar, resulting in a fire that burned for days.
There’s a popular myth circulating that electric and hybrid vehicles are more prone to fire than the conventional automobile. Here are some of the most common reasons a car fire might begin:Įxhaust issues like a clogged catalytic converterĪre Hybrid Cars More Susceptible to Fire? Famously, over a million Toyota Prius hybrids and another 215,000 Nissan SUVs were recalled because of fire hazards, but even recalls over things like ball joints or frame damage could mean that important components are compromised, increasing the risk of an accident and thus the risk of a fire. Some fires do stem from manufacturer faults, which is part of why we see so many recalls these days. With all the different fire extinguishers on the market, how do you know you’re buying the right one? We’ve got you covered with a complete buying guide to the best car fire extinguishers, the different kinds of automotive fires, and the types of chemicals needed to combat them.Įven with the statistics listed above, it’s unlikely that your car is going to spontaneously catch on fire there is usually a definitive cause behind car fires. Turn off your car’s engine immediately and get yourself and any other occupants a safe distance away from the car before inspecting the situation any further. If you are driving and smell something burning, pull over right away. Of all the advice in this article, the most important thing to know about automotive fire extinguishers is their purpose.Ĭar fire extinguishers are designed to save the occupants first and the vehicle second. It is our belief that many of these deaths could have been avoided with proper precautions such as carrying a specifically designed automotive fire extinguisher in every vehicle you drive.
And according to statistics gathered by organizations like FEMA, in recent years automobile fires have been responsible for as much as 10% of all United States fires and 6% of fire deaths. In recent years, as many as 17 automobile fires have been reported on American streets every hour resulting in as many as four deaths per week.
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