Author Topic: Fire!  (Read 4376 times)

JamesL

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Fire!
« on: October 14, 2021, 08:45:59 »
I don’t know if anyone has actually had a fire (engine/fuel) etc, but they can be properly terminal.
Does anyone carry a fire extinguisher (Pagoda or otherwise) and if so, where, what sort etc
Or am I unduly worried, being from the land of Prince Lucas of Darkness?

Thx
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

Peter

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2021, 09:00:24 »
Yes I have a fire extinguisher. A small one filled with gas, no foam, as this will also destroy the car/engine. It is in the trunk of the car.
I don’t think it’s too unduly worried. A fire, if not attacked immediately, will destroy the car.

Peter

BobH

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2021, 09:56:08 »
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KAO63G/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=firefighte06b-20&linkId=0d00dfb538eb55c9e1a4dc880bce89e0&language=en_US

This is the best type of extinguisher for a classic/expensive car, used in the aviation industry as it's non corrosive.  Needs to be securely fixed with a bracket, you don't want a pressurized container rolling around in a car.  These are not as efficient as an ABC dry chemical, but it's a compromise against damage by the fire or damage caused by the extinguisher!

"The aviation industry needed a solution that was non-corrosive to their airplanes, so they went to halotron.

H3R produces UL-certified halotron extinguishers for the everyday consumer market. They’re the go-to extinguisher brand for sports car enthusiasts today"
February 1965 230SL Automatic
UK delivered RHD
Papyrus white, blue hard top & hub caps
Blue soft top
Blue leather

Paul & Dolly

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2021, 13:22:59 »
Hi James

I have one of these, latest technology for our 50 year old cars.

https://www.1stracerallying.co.uk/50-second-fire-safety-stick

Expensive, but small to store in the car, and inert.

Paul
Paul (located in Cardiff - Wales - UK)
1967 Early 250 SL (Auto) White
Mitsubishi i Car
Toyota RAV 4  Hybrid AWD
1936 Alvis Firebird (Gone............)

su8pack1

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2021, 14:42:08 »
I carry one in all my vehicles.
1969 280SL
1984 300CD
1987 190E 2.6
1988 190D 2.5

ejboyd5

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2021, 16:11:24 »
Regarding car fires and their extinguishment, here's an article I wrote last year for a Porsche site:  https://www.912bbs.org/forum/ams/fire-and-the-912-porsche-%E2%80%93-an-overview-of-fire-and-fire-extinguishers.3/ 

GM

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2021, 16:16:36 »
Here's one the group was introduced to recently, that a few of us purchased - Element fire extinguisher
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/PELELEE50.htm
Gary
1971 280SL - Sold
(98 from the end of production)
DB180 Silver Gray Metallic
Black MB Tex

Benz Dr.

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2021, 19:51:03 »
I have a customer who had an engine fire in his 190SL. He was able to put it out with a dry chemical extinguisher but it made a real mess. Everything in the engine bay had to come out and be gone through. Engine, starter, generator, and new carbs. The right extinguisher would have helped, I'm sure.   
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

Tomnistuff

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2021, 21:51:38 »
You asked if anyone had had a fire.  The answer is yes but in a restored 40 year-old V12 Ferrari on a Quebec, Canada back road at just about Midnight.  That morning I had spent a couple of hours doing a triple carburetor air flow synchronization and fuel tuning while idling with an auxiliary fan in front of the radiator to keep the engine from overheating.  I didn't even think about running the battery down due to low speed "undercharging" while idling.

That afternoon, I calmly drove about 30 miles to a picnic at low speed, probably further depleting the battery.

On the way back home at midnight, I was in a hurry so I drove fast.  I overheated the electrical system in the engine compartment and inside the cockpit due to overcharging a depleted battery.  The wiring caught fire, blew half the fuses and everything went black, except for the fire itself.  I had an extinguisher which I used under the hood, but fortunately the fire self-extinguished inside the cockpit. 

I was being followed by a friend so we used his phone to call a tow truck which got me home at about 1:30 am.  It cost me lots of cash, about 100 feet of various gages of wire and about 6 months of underhood and cockpit work in my garage before taking it back on the road.

My advice:  Always, Always, Always carry an extinguisher when you drive an old car, even if it is restored.  Since then, mine has been mounted on the floor under my knees when I drive.

Tom Kizer
« Last Edit: October 15, 2021, 03:57:47 by Tomnistuff »
Apparently late 1966 230SL 4-spd manual (Italian Version)
Owned since 1987 and wrapping up a full rotisserie restoration/modernization.
Was: Papyrus White 717G with Turquoise MBtex 112 and Kinderseat
Is: Dark Blue 332G with Dark Blue Leather (5300, I think)

mclewis

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #9 on: October 15, 2021, 01:59:57 »
I also have an Element, Velcroed on the floor under the front of the passenger seat.
Marc Lewis
1968 280SL 728H/728H, 248, 746
2020 C300
2021 E450 All Terrain

lreppond

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #10 on: October 15, 2021, 05:35:19 »
My car has an Element in the center tray and a quick release Halguard under the front seat.  I hope they never have to be used but just in case. 
~Len

1971 280 SL
576G red/251 Beige
4 speed manual
Family owned since new (father —> son)

RAY

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #11 on: October 15, 2021, 10:55:22 »
Hi James,

I have the same as Paul & Dolly in all my vehicles and one at home. If you can watch the video you will see why. Brilliant and very compact. I have it mounted right in front of the drivers seat for quick and easy access. We all hope that we never have to use one but my worst nightmare is having a fire and then being helpless to do anything, at the very least it will give you a fire fighting chance. Better safe than sorry.
« Last Edit: October 15, 2021, 10:59:24 by RAY »

Peter van Es

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #12 on: October 15, 2021, 11:03:51 »
For all rallies I do you MUST have an approved fire extinguisher in the cabin (not in the trunk or boot). Mine is mounted securely in front of the passenger seat, where I can reach it in seconds. I've had it for about 10 years now so I'd better check its expiry date and maybe invest in one of those fire-sticks.
1970 280SL. System Admin of the site. Please do not mail or PM me questions on Pagoda's... I'm not likely to know the answer.  Please post on the forum instead!

Pawel66

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #13 on: October 15, 2021, 12:00:04 »
Here it is also a general regulation for all cars a fire extinguisher with valid technical control is required to be fixed within the hand reach of a driver.
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

mazmonza

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #14 on: October 15, 2021, 18:38:46 »
I carry a 90 second Fire Safety Stick recommended  to me by Paul, spec looks good but of course I don't  know how good until if and when I have to use it!  :-[
1967 250sl ZF 5 speed
1991 300ce-24 coupe Sportline
1962 Lambretta TV175/ RB20
2000 Ducati 748s
1970 Ducati Monza

ejboyd5

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #15 on: October 15, 2021, 18:43:23 »
Considering the most common causes of automobile fires, a readably accessible battery disconnect switch is just as important as an on-board fire extinguisher.

Cees Klumper

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #16 on: October 15, 2021, 19:55:19 »
I once had an engine fire in a 1980's Ford Pinto, on a highway offramp (I-95 in Boca Raton, FL) it must have been 1986. After I opened the hood the flames got bigger (more oxygen). Someone in another car had just a bit of water left in his plastic water bottle and that was enough to put the fire out. I think it cost me $500 to get it all fixed, back then. Since then I always carry a fire extinuisher. But, once, maybe a year, later, I passed a pickup truck parked on the side of a road in West Palm Beach, with two guys frantically working to put out an underhood fire in that truck. I thought, great, I can help them out with my extinguisher but as I stopped to begin to do that, they equally frantically began to gesture me to move on and leave. I then thought, great, they probably just stole the truck by short-circuiting something and I better get out of here! True story.
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

john.mancini

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #17 on: October 15, 2021, 20:55:50 »
Just ordered my Element.  Thanks
John
68 280SL 906 Blue 4-sp
69 280SL 906 Blue
70 280SL 904 Blue
70 280SL 571 Red
70 280SL 040 Black 4-sp
66 230SL 162 Blue/Grey 
68 280SL 568 Red 4-sp
69 280SL 304 Horizon Blue
65 230SL 519 Red 4-sp
83 911SC
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56 Ford F100
08 RS60
62 Corvette Fuelie
66 GT350H
67 GT350
70 LT1 conv

star63

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #18 on: October 16, 2021, 08:17:02 »
I also ordered Fire-sticks (from Ireland).

Thanks!
Petri
'67 250 SL (early)
'66 230 SL (long project)
Finland

SEB

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #19 on: October 16, 2021, 08:38:09 »
I heard about a Pagoda fire in a garage as a result of a short circuit in the electrical system. Since then, I disconnect always the battery.
Sebastian
1967 250 SL, 4 Speed, Euro spec, Tunis beige (462H),

rosemeyer

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #20 on: January 04, 2022, 20:47:20 »
One of the forum members brought this thread to my attention so I am posting here rather than starting another thread. I am one of the owners here at Element Fire and am also a long time Pagoda Group member and lurker. We are vintage car guys here and the W113 is among my personal favourites; one of these days I expect to get off the sidelines and take the plunge into ownership.
 
I am happy to answer any questions about the extinguisher and would like to let the group know that I have created a discount code that can be used when ordering on our online store. When prompted, enter the code bracq10 for a 10% discount. I would ask that the code be kept for use amongst the forum members and not be posted elsewhere. If any members have ordered from us in the last 30 days, please let me know and I will apply the discount retroactively.

A couple of things that might be of interest. First, the Element and the Fire Safety Stick being sold in the UK/Ireland are the same product simply being sold under different trade names in their respective markets.

Second, and most significant, Mercedes-Benz tested our extinguisher, granted it a formal approval, and added it to their global parts program at the end of 2021. In 2022, vehicles destined for several global markets (TBA) will be equipped ex-works in Sindelfingen with safety kits containing our extinguisher. We are obviously very proud of this association and believe that it helps validate our technology.

I look forward to answering any questions and hope to be a more active member when I get closer to deciding on a car.

Best Regards,
Paul
www.elementfire.com
« Last Edit: January 04, 2022, 21:03:03 by rosemeyer »

mBdrvr

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #21 on: January 04, 2022, 23:10:21 »
Paul,

Looks like a great product. Ordered two. Thanks for the discount.

Paul
Paul Greenblatt
'70 280 SL
'66 250 SE Cabrio
'60 190 SL

Kevkeller

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #22 on: January 24, 2022, 11:16:04 »
Hi Paul,
I’m trying to buy one and ship it to Honolulu. It won’t allow me to. Do you know why?
Thank you?
Kevin
1970 280 SL

mdsalemi

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #23 on: January 24, 2022, 13:13:44 »
Probably because of “ground shipping only” caveats. Too dangerous for air shipping.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

Tomnistuff

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Re: Fire!
« Reply #24 on: January 24, 2022, 15:26:56 »
Heaven forbid it should go off in an airplane hold and maybe extinguish a fire.  My understanding is that fire extinguishers extinguish fires, not start them.  Did I miss something?  Does that imply that they should not be used to extinguish a fire in an enclosed area?  Admittedly, I don't really know how they work.  Logically, I would think that if it's not safe for an airplane, I would not like for it to be stored in my Mercedes inside my house garage when I'm sleeping upstairs (sarcasm)  Seriously, I suppose there some reason for them not to be shipped by air.  Rosemeyer, do you know?
Tom Kizer
Apparently late 1966 230SL 4-spd manual (Italian Version)
Owned since 1987 and wrapping up a full rotisserie restoration/modernization.
Was: Papyrus White 717G with Turquoise MBtex 112 and Kinderseat
Is: Dark Blue 332G with Dark Blue Leather (5300, I think)