Buy a fire extinguisher for your garage!

[loveall13]

I helped one of my co-workers husbands clean up the aftermath of a garage fire this weekend. He was working on a leaking throttle body on his freshly rebuilt chevy 4x4, when he noticed a fire on the plastic he had under his truck to protect his floor, he tried to pull it out but discovered it had a pool of fuel on it, it ignited and all hell broke loose. He didn't have anything in the garage to fight the fire and the fire department took 20 minutes to show up. They think his air compressor cord sparked when it kicked on starting the fire. We hauled three car hauler trailers of equipment and his truck to the scrap dumpster at my school.


Jeremy

 

[Richard Cranium]

that and first Aid kits are items that most people don't buy until they needed one and didn't have one.
One year all my family got First Aid kits and Fire Extinguisher for Christmas.

 

[Jess]

When I built my shop. I purchased a couple of 15lb CO2 reconditioned extinguishers from a local fire equipment supplier. They are at the entry door and mid shop. I also have a couple of ABC 5lb extinguishers and a couple of water stream units in strategic locations. My worst fear is a carb fire, or welding spark setting off the inferno and no way to knock it down. We do not have fire protection here on this island, so nobody's coming.
Be safe, not sorry. It happens all too often. Feel bad for the OP but at least none was hurt.

 

[HOTFR8]

First Aid kit I have + 4 Fire Extinguishers and that does not include the ones in the two Cars and the Teardrop Camper. I also have a fire blanket and two other extinguishers in a safe place easy to get to.

One Fire extinguisher could have saved all that if used quickly.

 

[AndrewDouglasBird]

Being smart about fire is also important. Often times a fire can be completely avoided by taking the necessary precautions.

Anytime I'm working with something that could start a fire, I always make sure things like oily rags or combustibles are properly stored out of the way. I also make sure ignition sources like lights or open flames or grinders or whatever are used in a way that they won't start a fire.

Then of course have a fire extinguisher as a last resort.

 

[TK-421]

That's one of my biggest fears, and why I'll probably have what most people would consider too many fire extingushers/blankets/whatever else I can find, once I build my shouse. No idea how many I'll have, that will depend on how much money I have, but I figure a dozen would be a good place to start, if I do get my dream building, which is a 100x100 at a minimum.

 

[txvwnut]

I have two in the shop. Neither of which can put out magnesium, which seems to be what I manage to set on fire.

 

[davewo]

I had a close call a couple years ago. I got a lesson on how far grinding sparks fly. Afterward I purchased three Amerex fire extinguishers and an oily rag can from Zoro when they had a big sale. I put a 20 lb by the main door, a 5 lb by the welding area and another 5 lb by the door into the house. I also just installed a hose bib by the garage.

Many years ago I was in my basement diddling around and noticed a faint buzzing sound every so often. I went over to the service panels not really expecting to find a problem, but noticed a faint electrical smell. I thought "no way," and stood there waiting for a buzz. At that moment one of the breakers had arced away enough contact between it and the panel that it finally lit up in a flame. I took a dump but managed to grab pliers and pull the breaker. The panel is older and does not have a main breaker. I didn't tell my wife about what had just happened, I just headed off to the store and bought a bunch of extinguishers which we still have all over the house.

 

[ford33]

Very unfortunate that a fire destroyed the garage. Thanks for the reminder that we all need to check our fire extinguishers and replace or recharge those that are more than 10 or so years old. I just purchased a new fire extinguisher a couple weeks ago to replace my oldest one.

 

[Jon_E]

I spent ten years as a volunteer FF and fire officer in my local department, and was amazed at the number of fires that could have been dealt with quickly and safely if there was a fire extinguisher within a reasonable distance. Of course, it would have to be a functioning and usable extinguisher.

I work for a large health care facility as the facility manager and I get in big trouble if our fire protection systems aren't in perfect working order. I know where every extinguisher is in the building, and they get a visual check once a month and a full service check annually by a specialist.

Always used to think that having a bunch of fire extinguishers around was very expensive - a good 10# rechargeable commercial extinguisher will set you back nearly $100. What's your family, home and belongings worth?

 

[58Yeoman]

You also have to watch blowing leaves in the fall. Years ago, I awoke to the sound of sirens. My neighbor up the street had come home from work and parked his S10 in the garage, and went to bed. There was a pile of leaves under his truck that had blown in during the day. The hot cat started them on fire and burned his garage, house, both vehicles and his deceased fathers' old Harley to nothing. The heat from the fire also melted the neighbors vinyl siding one empty lot away.

 

[NUTTSGT]

OP, be careful helping you buddy clean out that garage, I see three trusses with missing/damaged bottom chords.

 

[countryroad82]

I've had a couple small fires in my shop. But I keep 6 extinguishers in easily accessible spots. They were due to idiot people bringing me **** running cars/leaky and me needing to move them. I learned to just push them when I get a **** runner in the shop. Let them burn their car to the ground.

 

[wssix99]

They think his air compressor cord sparked when it kicked on starting the fire.

Do you know if the floor of that garage was level?

We also have a number of threads here about the importance of sloping the garage floor so fuel vapors migrate out the door and not across the floor to ignition sources, etc.

 

[wssix99]

Very unfortunate that a fire destroyed the garage. Thanks for the reminder that we all need to check our fire extinguishers and replace or recharge those that are more than 10 or so years old. I just purchased a new fire extinguisher a couple weeks ago to replace my oldest one.

The guidelines are in NFPA #10, which can be viewed online for free now.

Rechargeable:
- Internally inspect every 6 years
- Hydrostatically test every 12 years

Non-Rechargeable:
- Replace every 12 years

 

[Cypherian]

I have two in the shop. Neither of which can put out magnesium, which seems to be what I manage to set on fire.

You need a class D for metal fires. If not salt or sand will also work.


Cypher

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

Why is the cab full of junk and why are the inner fender wells torched off?

 

[loveall13]

After the fire he stuffed everything he could in the truck to get rid of it. The fenders are torched off because that picture was taken behind the shop at my school and were cutting it up and stuffing it in the scrap dumpster.


Jeremy

 

[06 DIESEL]

I think I have five or six in my garage, but I need to get brackets to put them around the garage on the walls and not in one place on the floor where they are all currently sitting. I guess I know what my next purchase will be.

 

[lakeroadster]

Wow.. that truly *****. Thanks for the PSA.

 

[velillen01]

I keep fire extinguishers all throughout the house. The gf laughed at how many I had but doesn't mind them either. I keep a bunch of the small 1lb ones all over the house. One by the stove, one by the fireplace (its gas), one in each car, one in each bathroom, you get the idea. I then keep a bigger 5lb one in my truck and in the garage.. I keep an eye out and will pick up more when I see them one sale.

One thing that has always blown me away is how people build nice new garages and don't bother with a sprinkler system. It is such a small expense these days especially compared to building a whole garage. Definitely going to be something I add to my garage just for piece of mind

 

[loveall13]

OP, be careful helping you buddy clean out that garage, I see three trusses with missing/damaged bottom chords.

We were careful, the tin was holding way more weight than you would think, it wouldn't come down even after pulling out what was left of the trusses.

 

[JoeFin]

Now you know why I finished my shop entirely with 5/8 *** Fire rock

 

[dirttracker18]

One by the man door and one at the back of the shop in case I need to fight my way out :O

 

[softailgarage]

Oh man, seeing that Harley made me want to cry. I keep a fire extinguisher in each corner of the garage, as well as 2 in the kitchen.

 

[kf4zht]

Being a firefighter for a few years taught me that most fires could be easily stopped by an extingusher or hose at the right time. Once you get past that point though it's not far from an everything destroyed. Garages and shops have too many acelerants

Houses with modern materials are even worse: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/holidays-most-dangerous-time-for-house-fires/

Between the furniture burning hot and quick and the nail plates on engineered trusses even being in a great fire response area won't help that much. Extinguishers, alarms and fixing ignition sources is what saves you.

 

[Boilerhouse]

For many years I worked in a department which inspected and serviced the plants fire protection equipment....over 300 extinguishers. I have 2 extinguishers in my shop, a dry chem and a CO2, both next to the exit door. I often think of the possibility of a fire. I believe the best thing I can do to help prevent one, is to keep the shop as clean, organized and clutter free as possible.

 

[tomstin]

Another volunteer fireman here, or should I say past volunteer...getting too old for that work. I have 3 fire extinguishers in the garage, one at the entrance to the house, one in a far corner and one by the garage doors. Cheap insurance and may save your life.

Also, always have one in the car for trouble on the road.

However, Saturday a week ago, was doing some welding and forgot about a paper towel I used to clean the surface before I started welding. My feet got hot about the same time I saw the glow in the bottom of the welding hood. Had to move fast to stamp that out. Thank goodness it was only one sheet of paper towel!

"Be careful out there!"

 

[ffast65]

Great topic and one I need to address in my 3 car work area.

For gasoline, grinding and welding sparks, what is recomended? Co2?
Have a roof to weld on a project mustang and know lots of sparks will be made R&R the unit.
Thanks

 

[jeff_gates]

I have them in my small shop and main house, after seeing this I just ordered a 4 pack from Amazon and had them shipped to the shop in progress.

--Jeff

 

[CSFJ]

I keep fire extinguishers all throughout the house. The gf laughed at how many I had but doesn't mind them either. I keep a bunch of the small 1lb ones all over the house. One by the stove, one by the fireplace (its gas), one in each car, one in each bathroom, you get the idea. I then keep a bigger 5lb one in my truck and in the garage.. I keep an eye out and will pick up more when I see them one sale.

One thing that has always blown me away is how people build nice new garages and don't bother with a sprinkler system. It is such a small expense these days especially compared to building a whole garage. Definitely going to be something I add to my garage just for piece of mind

As far as a sprinkler system goes, does it matter if the building in question has city water or well water? I can understand how it would be an easy insurance item if you had a constant source of h2o pressure from a city main, but what happens on a system supplied by a well pump? Is it possible to run one when a power interruption would effectively render it useless? I had this thought the other day, as my house is actually built into my barn, and got to contemplating a sprinkler system for myself.

 

[Professur]

Does anyone have any personal experience with ColdFire extinguishers? I recognize them as gimick, but sometimes gimicks work.

 

[velillen01]

As far as a sprinkler system goes, does it matter if the building in question has city water or well water? I can understand how it would be an easy insurance item if you had a constant source of h2o pressure from a city main, but what happens on a system supplied by a well pump? Is it possible to run one when a power interruption would effectively render it useless? I had this thought the other day, as my house is actually built into my barn, and got to contemplating a sprinkler system for myself.

I have barely scratched the surface on my researching on the subject. But from what I have gathered is that even having city water doesn't mean it will work. They recommend something like 100PSI for the water pressure.

But I have seen setups where they install a big tank (300-500gal) with a pump. So it fills from the "low pressure supply" into the tank then exits the tank and gets to proper pressure.

As for the pump I would imagine it runs of electricity so if you lost power might be SOL.

And again I might be mistaken as I haven't researched very much nor am I in anyway an expert!

 

[CSFJ]

I have barely scratched the surface on my researching on the subject. But from what I have gathered is that even having city water doesn't mean it will work. They recommend something like 100PSI for the water pressure.

But I have seen setups where they install a big tank (300-500gal) with a pump. So it fills from the "low pressure supply" into the tank then exits the tank and gets to proper pressure.

As for the pump I would imagine it runs of electricity so if you lost power might be SOL.

And again I might be mistaken as I haven't researched very much nor am I in anyway an expert!

Yeah, I'm in the same boat information wise. I guess I was just used to seeing the large diameter water mains in the factory I work in, Figured that was more for a volume issue, never thought they might have to step up the pressure form what the city delivers it at.

 

[rattle_snake]

I keep an extinguisher in every vehicle in addition to the 2 in my garage... I've had to use a few over the years not just on my stuff.

 

[Kev442]

I agree that low pressure water is useless for some fires. I was out at a yard in the country many years ago buying a front clip. The guy was torching bumper bolts when he set the inner fender on fire. Those burn with a drippy hot flame that continues to burn in a puddle on the ground.
Being too cheap to own an extinguisher, he had a water sprayer with about a gallon of water in it. What a joke. I thought we were not only going to lose the car with my front clip, but half the yard in a grass fire. That guy was shitting himself and probably ruined his boots stomping on it.

I set a dashboard on fire welding or grinding, I forget which. That tarry/cardboardy **** they made them out of in the 80's was barely able to be quenched using an extinguisher.

I have 4 disposables, just bought two more last Saturday as the others are about 8 years old.

 

[spongerich]

We had a house fire when I was a little kid, so I'm like The Scarecrow when it comes to fire. I've got at least 5 extinguishers in my barn/shop. Whenever I'm doing any welding, brazing, grinding, etc, I always grab one and keep it right by my side.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Being a firefighter for a few years taught me that most fires could be easily stopped by an extingusher or hose at the right time.

Don't forget- never use water on a liquid fuel fire.

Tommy

 

[priesttherunner]

Being a firefighter for a few years taught me that most fires could be easily stopped by an extingusher or hose at the right time. Once you get past that point though it's not far from an everything destroyed. Garages and shops have too many acelerants

Definitely agreed.

Another PSA is that if you smell something or see an orange glow, don't shake it off. My uncle smelled an electrical source for a few weeks and had his home alarms going off without being able to detect the source.

Since he couldn't find it, he didn't worry about it. His house burnt to the ground as a total loss when the mini-fridge in his sitting room finally caught as an open flame source. No one was home and it took off.



Then a few weeks later my wife smelled something in the middle of the night. Dryer line had caught on fire. (see pics)

We live 1.2 miles from our fire department and they took twenty minutes to arrive, they were on another call. Fortunately, I got under there and went to town with the hose after shutting off the electrical main. If she hadn't said anything I might not be here today. Don't ignore common sense that 'smoke means fire'.

 

[Ipassgas]

I started a kitchen fire once. I was frying some chicken then had an "emergency" in the far part of the house. By the time I came back, the vent hood was black and ever so slightly warped, the tile backsplash was black, the chicken was charcoal and all of the oil was gone. I never smelled anything until I got back to the kitchen.

I got some fire extinguishers after that.

Most recently, my wife mentioned every time she used the dryer, she smelled "something". I couldn't locate or replicate it. Then, the blower resistor went in the car, and she said "that's the smell". As soon as we got home, I looked real close look at the dryer. Didn't see anything amiss, until I went to unplug it. I couldn't un plug it. Finally broke the outlet apart, and saw a mess of melted plastic and welded wires. I don't know why the house didn't burn down. Lucky, I guess.