[VAC] Re: Fw: [A/S] safety Fire extinguisher location FYI

["Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer" <geraldj@xxxxxxxxxx>]

There are some fundamentals of fire safety and fire fighting that we
should all know.

1. Water is the wrong attack for grease or electrical fires. Water into
hot grease spreads it disastrously. A temporary restaurant at the Iowa
State Fair burned last week because a cook tossed water into overheated
grease. The Des Moines fire chief wasn't pleased that the restaurant
didn't have a smother hood for the grease. He's less pleased that he had
to put the fire out, but since the fair grounds aren't in the city
(state property) he can't inspect beforehand. Grease tends to not be
ignited by a flame but by being heated above its autoignition
temperature. That means that it will reignite as soon as it gets air
until its cooled after smothering. So putting it out with CO2 (unless
that cools it too), it will flare up as soon as normal air gets to it.
Putting it out with any fire extinguisher or covering it, it will still
flare up if hot and air gets to it.

Water applied to electrical fires with power still applied can be deadly
to the hose holder and can add more damage to the wiring and more
problems.

2. A fire around the propane tanks is a severe hazard. When the boiling
propane splits the propane tank, shrapnel may fly hundreds of feet.
Large fire hoses (2" or larger) hooked to pumpers may cool the tanks,
but firefighters are maimed and killed by propane tank explosions
regularly.

3. Any fire from a gas leak won't go out and stay out until the gas is
turned off.

4. The thin panelling commonly used in trailers, especially SOB, burns
extremely fast. Mobile homes tend to flash into flame, hard on the
occupants, often deadly. That's from a combination of thin panelling and
lacquer finishes. Solid wood has its benefits in slower fire spread.

So first thing, unplug AC power, turn off propane tank valves, unhook
the battery, then if anything remains, fight the fire.

Fire extinguishers, not inspected and tested, tend to fail when needed.
Its important to make room for a large fire extinguisher (I wish there
was room made originally in my Caravel without blocking the door. Maybe
over the door.) Its more important to have it inspected every couple
years and refilled after testing every few inspections.

Gerald J. former member of the NFPA for about 25 years. But not a fire
fighter.