In fear of catching fire, who has stories? and what to do about it?

**DieSchnelleKafer** · 29th October 2018, 05:28 PM

Summer is coming and there has been something on my mind regarding my Land Rover.

Whenever i make a modification (be it wherever on the vehicle), i always have the possibility of a fire on my mind. I'll try and do the best to minimise the risk (add correct wiring insulation, route new components away from heat sources, minimise short circuit possibilities, minimise leaks etc). But we all know that no matter what you do, there is always that possibility.

From what i gather the worst case scenario is that someone were to have a Oil/Fuel fire under the engine bay. A few years ago i was at a friends place and the BBQ we were using started to run away with large flames engulfing it. We realised that the drip tray had not been emptied in years and that the oil was now heated to the point that it was highly flammable. We didn't know what to do and proceeded to empty a powder type extinguisher into the BBQ. Incredibly to us at the time, this did nothing... The fire raged on unhindered. The only way we got it under control was to sit there and dowse/cool it with a garden hose.

I have a dry type extinguisher inside the vehicle at all times but my fear is that it will be useless in such an event where the fire is caused by a oil/fuel leak on to hot components. I have always planned on adding a 10-15 L water tank to the inside of the vehicle. My plan is to get on with this job and fit it out with a 12V electric pump and a 5 meter long hose with a spray nozzle on the end. This setup will have many uses but one of those will be a mini fire fighting unit which will sit at the ready.

so who has some cautionary tails? and what fire equipment do you have in your vehicle?

**djam1** · 29th October 2018, 05:55 PM

Why do you fear your car catching fire??
Quite an uncommon occurrence generally although it does happen in the desert, we removed all under body guards to prevent spinifex buildup.
That and have an extinguisher handy this is good for the first couple of events but after that the extinguishers were spent.
This makes things more interesting.

**Homestar** · 29th October 2018, 06:01 PM

Was chatting to a fellow on Saturday who’s old series 3 burnt his house to the ground. His new one has a battery isolator fitted.

In the event of an under bonnet fire, isolating the fuel supply and electrical is a must if you want to have a chance of putting it out - thankfully taking care of the electrical should also take care of new fuel being introduced into the fire. Good maintenance is the best way to avoid the fire in the first place IMO. Old cracked fuel lines, etc aren’t going to help the cause.

**DieSchnelleKafer** · 29th October 2018, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Homestar

Was chatting to a fellow on Saturday who’s old series 3 burnt his house to the ground. His new one has a battery isolator fitted.

In the event of an under bonnet fire, isolating the fuel supply and electrical is a must if you want to have a chance of putting it out - thankfully taking care of the electrical should also take care of new fuel being introduced into the fire. Good maintenance is the best way to avoid the fire in the first place IMO. Old cracked fuel lines, etc aren’t going to help the cause.

Damn that is not a good story.

Yes i guess isolation needs to be the first thing, the trick would be to keep some sharp side cutters near the battery earth cable or perhaps a battery isolation switch which is A: easily accessible and B: reliable enough to not let you down.

Originally Posted by djam1

Why do you fear your car catching fire??
Quite an uncommon occurrence generally although it does happen in the desert, we removed all under body guards to prevent spinifex buildup.
That and have an extinguisher handy this is good for the first couple of events but after that the extinguishers were spent.
This makes things more interesting.

Uncommon yes, a possibility...yes. Its more of an ease of mind thing.

Spinifex is another consideration then, the D2's dont have as much under body plates/protection as a lot of the new vehicles have these days which is a good thing as far as spinifex build up goes.

**Homestar** · 29th October 2018, 06:16 PM

My battery isolator is within easy reach of the drivers seat but then the battery is behind the passenger seat in my 101 and I sit in the engine...

In fear of catching fire, who has stories? and what to do about it?

**4bee** · 5th November 2018, 08:23 PM

Depending on the type & location of the fire you may not have access to 12v for the electric pump, so what about a Hardi type hand pumper or a 20 LITRE firefighting knapsack type sprayer or cylindrical tank with a wand or replace that with a small jet & small tank that you can move around the car & to other's vehicles that may have a fire?

But you still have to have foolproof access to it no matter where it is located.

**DieSchnelleKafer** · 5th November 2018, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by 4bee

Depending on the type & location of the fire you may not have access to 12v for the electric pump, so what about a Hardi type hand pumper & small tank that you can move around the car?

Yes that's true. Maybe one of those pump up garden sprayers might be a convenient way of doing it, have it mounted so it is easy to access at all times. That way if the 12v supply is compromised it does t matter.

**Aaron IIA** · 5th November 2018, 08:45 PM

If you want water to squirt at a fire, use a 9L stored pressure water fire extinguisher.

Aaron

**4bee** · 5th November 2018, 08:50 PM

You'd need to select something with a fair old flow rate as the type of sprayer you describe would be vaporising the water jet before it could actually reach the seat of the fire.

What you really need is a tow behind tanker trailer with a 5hp diesel fire pump on it but maybe that could present other problems?

Even an Airport Fire Tender might do the job but could be a tad overkill.

**4bee** · 5th November 2018, 09:06 PM

If you want water to squirt at a fire, use a 9L stored pressure water fire extinguisher.

Ah yes, or the old Soda Acid or Foam copper job with a lovely hose & nozzle. "Turn upside down to operate"

Just the job I reckon, easy to store & carry.

Good thinking 99.

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