Driving this evening I saw a car on fire on the side of the interstate. It was fully engulfed in flames, and I hope nobody was in it, as it was certainly unapproachable at that point.

I have occasionally thought about keeping a fire extinguisher in my vehicle, but never have. I think seeing this fire has motivated me to get one to keep in the Touareg. I would hate to see an accident with a fire starting and be helpless.

Anybody or everybody keep one? If so, any recommendations?

Yes, I carry a Kidde, but I cannot remember the model #.

No-and I never even thought about having one. I guess something to consider.

I'm always in one of my work trucks, and they all have larger than required extinguishers.

I've put out a few car fires and a landscaping fire outside of a Best Buy with them. One of the reasons I put in the larger extinguishers was due to the fact that I have pulled people out of cars prior to them catching fire. If I ever encounter somebody trapped in one I want to make sure I have as much as possible to throw at it.

Yes and have used it. What I found was you can knock a car fire down but it will flash up. I ran out of the little extinguisher and grabbed a garden hose, just to keep the flames down. I now carry a bigger one.

I've carried one (replacements now & then) since 1964. Having one on hand by mere providence saved my prized 53 Caddy many decades ago.

Yes, pretty sure it's a 5 pounder.

yes. And in my service truck I also have a CO2 extinguisher for when I don't want to make a mess (carburetor fire for example).

Yup. One in every car.

Only had to use one once when tailgating before a baseball game when a friend got a little too liberal with the lighter fluid.

Yes, just bought one tonight for the jet ski. I don't know if I could actually get it out without accidently abandoning ship were it to catch fire while sitting over the engine!

I do not, but my husband mentioned wanting one so I got him one for his car about a yr. ago. It is "Kiddie" brand too. My brother always has one in every vehicle & I just got what he recommended. He told me (but I don't remember) what type to get cos one was better at not causing as much damage/mess repair wise, after the fact.

Nope, not me. I usually carry 2. One a dirty dry chemical one. If I have a fire I use my Halon extinguisher. The dry chem is for other peoples fires where I don't have to do the clean up.

I had a friend (and I use that term advisedly) who had a fuel leakage problem. We were on a jeep ride down in southern KY. Like a friend should, I came running and put it out. Not even a half hour later it caught fire again. After the 3rd repeat, I warned him to figure out where the gas was coming from because my extinguisher was nearly empty. Then I handed him the carcass of my once full job.

I didn't tell him about my halon because I didn't want to waste it on his junker. And it brings up a serious point. When you use your expensive extinguisher, you're donating it to the cause. No one ever pays you back or has yours recharged.

Oh yes. Both my car and truck have one.

No, but I need to. I have a fire extinguisher in every room of my home, but not in my vehicle. I do carry flares and a first aid kit in my truck as I have been first on the scene for several accidents where the person was dead. There is no reason for me not to carry a fire extinguisher in my truck.

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What I found was you can knock a car fire down but it will flash up

Temperature alone can cause this, but if possible you also want to kill power to the car. Turn the key off if you can reach in. Popping the hood and cutting the battery cables being the best option.

quote:

No one ever pays you back or has yours recharged.

Best Buy gave me a gift card to compensate for the recharging.

Yes. Rechargeable dry chem ABC. This thread reminds me that I still haven't bought a belt cutter/window punch.

Yes I do. The starter motor on my truck would not turn off. Before I could disconnect the battery, the insulation on the wire that powers the starter ignited. One quick blast with the extinguisher put it out.

Yeah. After I saw a video of people burning to death after an accident, while bystanders could do nothing, I started carrying one.

I keep an Ansul 5# size in each of our vehicles. They are Halon.

This is a very useful thread. Thank you to the OP and everyone who contributed.