R8 Burning on the Gardiner
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 14
From: Oakville, Canada
As for how big a fire this 2.5 lb unit is effective for, everything else being equal, I would rather have a fire bottle in the car than not if and when the need arises!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 68
From: West of Mosport!
I had a fuel fire in my old 951 and the extinguisher only lasted about 30 seconds when opened. not enough to put out a fuel fire. My neibor grabbed his 5 or 7 lber and we used a hose for the rest. luckily very little damage. but made me realize the extinguishers hold very little. really only good for tiny fire or to get you out of the car safely if burning inside.
We had a bad fire at the World Challenge races this past weekend - one of our people emptied a 10lb on a GT class turbo Volvo and then another marshal got there with a 20lb one and they emptied that one. It wasn't until the fire team from corner 5 got there with their water/foam unit plus hand held bottles that they put out the fire. Thankfully the driver was already out by that time or it wouldn't have ended too well for him.
No clear idea what went wrong but suspected fuel rail break seems to be the thinking as the fire started between the engine and fire wall and then spread inside the cockpit! Randy Pobst was ok - the K-Pax car not so good...
To be clear: any extinguisher is better then NO extinguisher - but get the hell out of the car and stay up wind of the smoke. Most of the smoke is highly toxic from the cars interior burning. Your insurance will replace the car but nothing can replace your lungs or years of poor health.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 26,394
Likes: 482
From: Ontario
I trained on fire suppression systems and as I recall from the lessons, fire depends on the triangle of, Heat, Air, Fuel. Deprive any of those and no fire. Too bad that Halon messes up the environment because it is outstanding at depriving a fire of air. A small burst of halon will put out a fire, but if it's fuel fed over a hot manifold or an electrical fire then it's just a matter of time before ignition recurs.
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Verdad Gallardo
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 14
From: Oakville, Canada
I was going to say that at least the hood, front fenders and the headlights are salvageable, that is until I got to the 2 minute 10 seconds mark when firefigher K. Turner started hammering away at the left fender and busted the headlights........
WHY?! Had he not realized the engine and the fire were at the other end of the car?!?!
WHY?! Had he not realized the engine and the fire were at the other end of the car?!?!
. Must be a car guy ..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
