Fire Extinguisher for Vehicles

Your car can catch fire at any time or any place. If you have a fire extinguisher in your vehicle you can easily manage fire and don’t have a complete loss of your vehicle. There are many fewer chances that your car catch fire, but if caught the consequences are very serious. Nearly 200,000 vehicles experience fires every year. A fire extinguisher will save you and your car from destruction.

Types of Fires That Could Happen in a Vehicle

A fire in a car can happen due to several reasons. It’s good to know about vehicle fire causes it will help you prepare better.

Common Causes of Car Fires

Some common causes of vehicle fires are here:

• Electrical Problems: If your car has wiring faults or electrical short circuits it can start fires, especially in the dashboard or under the hood.
• Fuel: Leaked gasoline or other fuels will ignite in the presence of heat or sparks.
• Engine Overheating: When your engine is under high pressure or during heavy driving conditions it can cause a fire.
• Burnable Stuff: Things like paper, fabric, or chemicals found in the car will burn under high temperatures or spark.

How do Fires Escalate? 

Fire vehicle engines are very sensitive to burning because they have various burnable materials such as fuel and oils in them. A very small spark may take little time to increase into a roaring and out-of-control fire. At this point, a fire extinguisher could be your closest friend. If you put out the fire at a very early stage prevents the spread of that flame and may save your vehicle from a total loss.

How a Fire Extinguisher Can Help in an Emergency

If you are under the condition of fire accidents in cars, fire extinguishers could cool the fire. Quick action is involved because fires can spread faster than seconds. Here is how it works:

• Quick Action: To prevent fire spreading, fire extinguishers must be used early to avoid irritation of a burning fire. Most times, this kind of early precaution saves a car from severe damage. 
• Life-saving: The fire extinguishers are the form of lifesavers for you. This helps you when you are in any danger inside your car.

Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher for Your Vehicle

The most important feature is choosing one that is designed specifically for usage in vehicles. Here is a list of such available types of extinguishers:

Types of Fire Extinguishers for Cars

You need to make sure that your fire extinguisher is approved for cars and is big enough for some of the most expected fire types in an automobile when it comes to purchasing one for your vehicle.

• ABC Extinguishers: These are almost suitable for every type of fire, that includes of electrical and fuel fires as well as ordinary combustibles.
• BC Extinguishers: These are for exclusively extinguishing electrical fires with combustible flammable liquids.

Proper Placement and Accessibility of Fire Extinguishers in Vehicles

You can put the fire extinguisher in any place but this is not good. It can only be useful to you when you set the fire extinguishers in the right place. The following are the places that are highly recommended:

• Location: The extinguisher should be placed in an easily accessible area such as the front driver’s door or beneath the driver’s seat. You need to avoid hiding it in compartments difficult to grab quickly. 
• Accessibility: To save your life in case of any danger you should place your fire extinguisher where you can easily reach it as fast as possible. 

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher at the Time of Vehicle Fire

If an emergency fire starts to blaze in your car, follow these steps of instructions in using the fire equipment, as follows:

Pull the Pin:	Break the pin on the handle of the extinguisher.
Aim at the Base of the Fire:	The flow should be directed at the fuel or electrical source.
Squeeze the Handle:	Press the handle to release the chemical agent and focus on the bottom of the flames.
Sweep Side to Side:	You can do this to cover the entire fire until it is finally extinguished.

Maintaining and Inspecting Your Fire Extinguisher

These are the suggestions for you:

• Check the Pressure: Check the regulation of indicated green on the pressure, which means the fire extinguisher should be charged as it is supposed to be.
• Check Damages: Look for damages, decays, or leaks, which will render your vehicle fire extinguisher useless.

Conclusion

One should have a fire extinguisher, which is simple to use and does not consume much space. It can save one’s life in any kind of danger like a fire in their car. Be it for preventing a minor spark from catching entirely or giving the owner peace of mind, a fire extinguisher is an essential car fire safety feature for any owner. Regular inspection, placement, and selection of the right type will always keep you ready.

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