Car troubles are surely hectic and frustrating! Imagine the struggle of finding your car immobile and partially ablaze while en route to the beach for a nice family picnic! In such cases, a car extinguisher is a hero without a cape!

Albeit most people take these extinguishers to be nothing more than a red tank taking up space on the wall or inside of the car, these extinguishers are however, extremely useful. Instead of being just a red hunk of metal, they come in very handy during car troubles and emergency fire situations.

As per the reports released by the National Fire Protection Association, a rough estimate of 30 vehicle fires occur every hour in the United States. The same report further elaborated fire incidents occurred on highway vehicles to be the cause of 13% of deaths within the country.

What causes a vehicle fire?

There can be several causes to why a vehicle may catch fire, however, only a handful of them are known. Some of the most common reasons to car fires are as follows:

1. Faulty electrical circuits

Electrical fires are one of the most common types of car fires occurring due to faulty circuits. While a car is on the go, its battery charges to keep things running and therefore, produces hydrogen gas under the hood as a by-product.

Frayed wiring in the battery therefore generates current which has high potential of causing fires. Also, faulty wires may create sparks that end up becoming an ultimate cause of burning.

2. Improper maintenance

Everything needs maintenance to perform in excellent condition. Let it be cars or any other materials. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain your car in perfect running condition so that there are any broken circuits or other potentials of causing fires available.

Reasons of needing a car fire extinguisher

With vehicle fires causing hundreds and thousands of deaths each year worldwide, having a car extinguisher seems to be a smart move. There are various reasons to carry a car extinguisher with you around at all times and this article gives an insight on some important ones.

1. Protection from engine fires

Engine fires are a scary and damaging ordeal. If a car engine catches fire, it is best to get rid of it as soon as possible before it causes the vehicle to explode. Having a fire extinguisher in such a situation can be the ultimate lifesaver!

Although engine fires categorize as electrical fires and require a special way to extinguish a car fire extinguisher therefore serves the purpose. It can efficiently subside the fire enough for it to be controllable. Also, this car fire extinguisher can ensure the vehicle does not face much damage and gets away with little harm instead of major losses.

2. Subsiding cabin area fires

Cabin area fires are far more threatening and dangerous than engine fires. Although it is rare but the chances of cabin area fires are still more than likely. Also, as these fires are deadly, and often result in evident loss of lives, it is better to stay prepared beforehand.

The cabin area of a car is made up of highly flammable material. Therefore, fires in this area rage up heinously which is why having a car fire extinguisher is handy as it can help deal with any kind of fire whatsoever.

These car fire extinguishers ensure safety and protection from cabin fires for occupants. It also helps ensure that the cabin doesn’t burn to the ground leaving with irreparable damage.

3. Fire incidents on roadsides

As vehicle fires are unfortunately exceedingly common, it is possible for your fire extinguisher to come in useful for others if not for you. While driving past, specifically on days with blistering heat it is possible for you to come across a vehicle on fire.

In such cases, you can use your fire extinguisher to help that person out and save lives along with protect from other damages. Having such an emergency kit along is a smart move and you never know when it may come in useful. Therefore it is better to always be prepared for the worst and hope for the best!

Which type of car fire extinguisher to use?

With the dust settle down why having a car fire extinguisher should be a priority, the key question come son which type of car fire extinguisher is the most ideal? For cars, we typically recommend going for car fire extinguishers that are generally smaller than the ones found in homes and businesses.

For small vehicles, a two pound car fire extinguisher is best. However, for large and commercial vehicles, it is recommended to use a larger sized car fire extinguisher.

Apart from that, vehicles are a combination of various types of material making them a potential target for different kinds of fires. Let it be oil, electrical, gas, not to mention a vast array of other exceedingly flammable substances are also present.

Therefore, while choosing a car fire extinguisher, it is best to put these materials into consideration and opt for an extinguisher that is adaptable in dealing all kinds of fires.

In such situations, experts suggest dry powder extinguishers to work best. These extinguishers have a potential of dealing with all types of fires. Also, they are known to cause the least amount of damage to the vehicle while putting out fires, especially so in cases on an engine fire.

In addition to these things, after selecting the right type of fire extinguisher for you, it is best to see its working condition. Have it checked properly through professionals to make sure it is in complete working condition before buying it.

Final words

Fires are dangerous and not something to take risks with. They start without any kind of warning and are massively damaging. They can at times even be quite deadly and take up lives of people. Therefore, having a fire extinguisher at all times can guarantee safety and protection from such dangerous present.