Posted By anon1234 I agree - don't bother you are only encouraging people to put themselves at risk as you'd have to get out of the car to be able to use the extinguisher safely anyway - so why having made yourself safe would you want to go back and put yourself at risk?

Posted By Pugwash I know of a couple of instances where drivers with fire extinguishers in their own vehicles have been able to put out fires in other vehicles. In one case there was a baby trapped in the car. The fire was extinguished by the driver of another vehicle using his extinguisher and the baby rescued. If the fire had not been extinguished the baby might have died. Not a case, I feel, where one should stand back and let it burn I would rather have an extinguisher in a vehicle than not have one. Fit all company vehicles with extinguishers, first aid kits, warning triangles and BS EN471 Class 3 jackets.

Posted By p winter There are good, for and against, arguments made in this thread.However based on risk assessment we decided not to provide extinguishers (fleet of 500+ vehicles mostly cars and vans) We felt overall a fire was most likely to start in the engine and a small vehicle extinguisher was likely to be of little use once the fire was established. It is questionable how effective larger extinguishers would be in the same situation. It seemed more likely an employee could be hurt attempting to extinguish a fire. Take your point about someone or a baby being trapped - but you'd still need to catch the fire early.

Posted By Mark Mace Surely if you decide to fit these to your vehicles you would be required to have given specific training for anyone that may end up using them? It would be interesting to find out if possible the number of incidents involving car fires over a twelve month period, keeping in mind most company vehicles are serviced (checked) on a regular basis. Regards Tony

Posted By Amjad Al Ata Hi all, Keep it in the car (it is probable that someone knows how to use it). Before two days and whilst I was waiting a mate & car (small) started smoking the driver opened the machine/it was small electric fire .. he was holding the extinguisher without knowing how to even remove safety pin, I've took it & put fire out!! it can be used. Regards

Posted By Ken Taylor We really need to differentiate between blazing cars at motor sport events and putting out a small fire on the back seat of your Cavalier.

Posted By Ken Taylor The point is, Renny, that Kevin is asking about whether to have extinguishers in company vehicles that are not carrying dangerous goods - and not about extinguishers for motor sport events. I am trying to support the value in having an appropriate 'in-car' extinguisher for dealing with a small fire 'in-car' before it becomes a big fire. Do you have any problems with dry powder in high winds?

Posted By Renny Thomson Ken, I did say that dry powder was an effective extinguishant for non-motor sport use, i.e. for use in a "normal" car fire. With regards to using a dry powder in high winds, if it is used correctly, there tends not to be a problem as you should approach the fire from upwind. The residual powder cloud may spread a fair distance, but the main part should still be applied to the seat of the fire. I think that carrying an extinguisher in a vehicle can be a good thing, but consideration should be given to; training the person how to use it, where to store it safely so that it is secure, unlikely to be set off accidentally, but is also accessible, maintenance (dry powder extinguishers on vehicles need to be inverted and shaken at least monthly to avoid compaction of the powder which can render them useless). Personally, at the moment I don't have an extinguisher fitted to either of our two family cars because there is nowhere appropriate to fit it in one and I've just replaced the other so have not yet got round to fitting it. However, when I attend motor sports events as an Official, I usually carry a AFFF as part of my kit.

Posted By Pete48 All very interesting stuff so far, but I do not see one key aspect mentioned so far. That is where they may be used--wherever the car catches fire. A busy main road? a four lane section of the motorway? The forecourt of the local filling station? Now, ooh is that smoke? Should I use that extinguisher thing? Where is it, the boot, the rear seat well? Aaargh, how did he remove it so easily from the clamp during that training last year? Which bit did I push to make it work? Ooh that lorry was a bit close, why was he leaning on his horn? Do I open the bonnet or not? HELP! How many of us normal folk would have the presence of mind to dynamically assess the risks from traffic and then use the extinguisher safely to extinguish the fire I wonder? The real risk of "tempting" ill prepared or able people to attack what could very quickly become a serious fire and to do this in what in all probability will be a very dangerous traffic situation seems to me to be clear. I find it difficult to support the provision of such low-level emergency equipment for use by you and me. You see the response from the racing fraternity, if they have problems with the kit with their interest in things mechanical?? Spend the money on a seat belt cutter that also "pops" the window glass instead. Have you asked your local friendly fire officer for a view?

Posted By KEVIN O'KANE Thanks for all your comments,its has been very helpful.Its good to know you are all out there when one need some support/help. Thanks Again Kevin