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FIRE *SAFETY* Remider *****

P

PWC Repair

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
3,166
Location
Arkansas
A reminder for everybody....CHECK YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS in the shop!! Had a panic/scary situation this morning. The image below is from a security cam in my office looking out into the bay I always work in. That's a jet ski ON FIRE....IN MY SHOP!! I had just put a BUNCH of work into repairing MULTIPLE issue on a fuel injected Seadoo. Including siphoning out all old gas, swabbing the tank, testing/flushing the fuel pump, replacing oil lines, etc. It was acting weird trying to start, I replaced the start switch and that was good but starter seemed to drag a bit like it was worn out and pulling high amps. On and off I kept hearing a sizzling......frying bacon sort of sound, very quiet. Heard it several times and thought...."I bet that starter's about fried. I had ultrasonic cleaned the injectors and tested the spray pattern probably 30 minutes before this........there was still some fresh spilled gas in the hull. I cranked it a time or two and about the third crank.....WHOOSH!!! FLASH FIRE!!! Grabbed a small extinguisher from under my work bench......DAMN!! Only dribbled some dust out like an 80yo man with prostate issues. Grabbed the SECOND ONE from under my bench....DAMN...NOTHING....DEAD!!! Luckily my wife grabbed one from a customer machine right here in the lot and put it out. Buying a couple new ones TONIGHT!! My only guess right now is that sizzling sound was a short circuit either IN the starter or a rubbed wire UNDER the engine.
 

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mschoo92

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 2, 2023
Messages
65
Location
Sussex County, NJ
PWC Repair said:
A reminder for everybody....CHECK YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS in the shop!! Had a panic/scary situation this morning. The image below is from a security cam in my office looking out into the bay I always work in. That's a jet ski ON FIRE....IN MY SHOP!! I had just put a BUNCH of work into repairing MULTIPLE issue on a fuel injected Seadoo. Including siphoning out all old gas, swabbing the tank, testing/flushing the fuel pump, replacing oil lines, etc. It was acting weird trying to start, I replaced the start switch and that was good but starter seemed to drag a bit like it was worn out and pulling high amps. On and off I kept hearing a sizzling......frying bacon sort of sound, very quiet. Heard it several times and thought...."I bet that starter's about fried. I had ultrasonic cleaned the injectors and tested the spray pattern probably 30 minutes before this........there was still some fresh spilled gas in the hull. I cranked it a time or two and about the third crank.....WHOOSH!!! FLASH FIRE!!! Grabbed a small extinguisher from under my work bench......DAMN!! Only dribbled some dust out like an 80yo man with prostate issues. Grabbed the SECOND ONE from under my bench....DAMN...NOTHING....DEAD!!! Luckily my wife grabbed one from a customer machine right here in the lot and put it out. Buying a couple new ones TONIGHT!! My only guess right now is that sizzling sound was a short circuit either IN the starter or a rubbed wire UNDER the engine.
Click to expand...
Wow! Scary, thank God all was alright and you got the fire out. Good tip on checking fire extinguishers
 
J

Jack_K

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 7, 2021
Messages
327
Location
Australia
A fire is not something you want to experience.

There was a fire at my work and six months later the insurance company has only just finished the clean-up (could they do it any slower?). They haven't started on the reconstruction yet. All because one computer started a fire when nobody was there. The fire itself was contained to one small room but the smoke spread far.
 
L

LeeG

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2012
Messages
1,525
Location
Phoenix, AZ
I get mine inspected and recharged every 2 years. Not being a business I don’t need to, but I’d rather have them work when I need them.
 
D

DGersic

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Messages
6,266
Location
DeKalb, IL
PWC Repair said:
A reminder for everybody....CHECK YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS in the shop!!
Click to expand...

I need to do this when I get home. A week ago, right about this time actually, I had the unexpected and unpleasant surprise of an electrical fire and got to use both of my extinguishers to save the house. Two new ones have been purchased.
 
OP
P

PWC Repair

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
3,166
Location
Arkansas
DGersic said:
I need to do this when I get home. A week ago, right about this time actually, I had the unexpected and unpleasant surprise of an electrical fire and got to use both of my extinguishers to save the house. Two new ones have been purchased.
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Ouch, scary stuff.
 
A

aggie113

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 22, 2015
Messages
467
Location
San Antonio, TX
Got two Amerex 20lb abc extinguishers hanging on walls in the garage with signage posted above them. Also have a 5lb CO2 hanging next to the front of the two post lift. Figure if an engine bay lights up the CO2 can take care of it without making a big mess and 10 ft away is a big chemical one if still needed.
 
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N

NUTTSGT

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Messages
50,863
Location
Northern Central Ohio
PWC Repair said:
Nope. Not for the house either. They just ask if I have one, and if I have smoke detectors........which I do.
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Are you actually operating a business ? Or a sidework hustle at home ?

Personally, I don't care either way. However, if you are running a business out of the house, I'd make sure your bases are covered for insurance liability issues.

Might be time to stop by your local extinguisher retailer/service center and buy a couple of serviceable extinguishers.... dry chems, maybe a CO2 version. A water can extinguisher can usually be picked up at auctions for cheap...not much to those, just add water and charge with air.
 
M

M.Brane

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Joined
Feb 11, 2024
Messages
1,716
Location
1 hr N/W of LA LA Land
I bet that was exiting!

The ones at work get inspected monthly, and once a year a company comes out to do a thorough inspection, recharge, and culls any that no longer meet standards.

The ones at home I check monthly including inverting them, and tapping with a dead-blow.
 
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welder4956

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2010
Messages
3,059
Location
Birmingham, AL USA
Thanks for bringing this up. I need to get a backup fire extinguisher for the garage. I have an ABC extinguisher on the wall beside the man door, but no backup. The ABC extinguishers are a dry powder chemical and the powder can get caked up and solid over time, and not work when needed even though the pressure gauge is in the green. I do pick it up and turn it upside down and shake occasionally, but it is hard to tell if it has caked up. I may pick up a CO2 extinguisher as a backup and mount it near the workbench.
 
OP
P

PWC Repair

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
3,166
Location
Arkansas
NUTTSGT said:
Are you actually operating a business ? Or a sidework hustle at home ?

Personally, I don't care either way. However, if you are running a business out of the house, I'd make sure your bases are covered for insurance liability issues.

Might be time to stop by your local extinguisher retailer/service center and buy a couple of serviceable extinguishers.... dry chems, maybe a CO2 version. A water can extinguisher can usually be picked up at auctions for cheap...not much to those, just add water and charge with air.
Click to expand...
I run a business full time...........well, almost full time. I shut down in the winter months cause nobody is riding jet skis. Winter off season is when I do major engine work and full rebuilds. Since I specifically work on PersonalWaterCraft, most insurance companies call me "UNinsureable". There are no 'Garage Keeper" type policies for me. My local provider looked into it with their writers and they said MOST claims related to watercraft are personal injury related and they start sueing anybody that has ever touched the machine. We found 2 different places that have specialty insurance for a jet ski shop and NEITHER one is licensed in Arkansas. I ended up getting my local provider to write up a fire/storm policy for the shop and had a lawyer write up a liability release waiver that everybody signs when they drop a ski off at my shop.
Good idea on the Co2. That would have probably put this one out quickly without a mess. Already picked up 2 Badger extinguishers last night.
 
A

aggie113

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 22, 2015
Messages
467
Location
San Antonio, TX
N

nadogail

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
31,906
Location
Coronado, CA
PWC Repair said:
A reminder for everybody....CHECK YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS in the shop!! Had a panic/scary situation this morning. The image below is from a security cam in my office looking out into the bay I always work in. That's a jet ski ON FIRE....IN MY SHOP!! I had just put a BUNCH of work into repairing MULTIPLE issue on a fuel injected Seadoo. Including siphoning out all old gas, swabbing the tank, testing/flushing the fuel pump, replacing oil lines, etc. It was acting weird trying to start, I replaced the start switch and that was good but starter seemed to drag a bit like it was worn out and pulling high amps. On and off I kept hearing a sizzling......frying bacon sort of sound, very quiet. Heard it several times and thought...."I bet that starter's about fried. I had ultrasonic cleaned the injectors and tested the spray pattern probably 30 minutes before this........there was still some fresh spilled gas in the hull. I cranked it a time or two and about the third crank.....WHOOSH!!! FLASH FIRE!!! Grabbed a small extinguisher from under my work bench......DAMN!! Only dribbled some dust out like an 80yo man with prostate issues. Grabbed the SECOND ONE from under my bench....DAMN...NOTHING....DEAD!!! Luckily my wife grabbed one from a customer machine right here in the lot and put it out. Buying a couple new ones TONIGHT!! My only guess right now is that sizzling sound was a short circuit either IN the starter or a rubbed wire UNDER the engine.
Click to expand...
Nothing teaches like a FIRE.
 
J

Jerriffic

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 22, 2011
Messages
146
Location
Chicago
Getting my boat ready for some fishing on lake Michigan I decided to look into replacing my old B-C fire extinguisher. I found out the Coast Guard requires the extinguisher be replaced after 10 years. Could not find a date on it anywhere, eventually found a manufacture code lightly stamped on it near the bottom. After deciphering the code turns out it's 14 yrs old.
 
J

Junkman

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
6,598
Location
Northeastern CT
I like CO2 fire extinguishers for our home. Most fire departments prefer that you call 911 first and then try your fire extinguisher, because house fires often get out of control quickly. In the event of a lawnmower or a jet ski, I can see trying to knock it down with your fire extinguisher. I have a CO2 in just about every room, but I have instructed my wife to just call 911 and get out of the house rather than trying to put the fire out. I would rather lose the house than lose a person.
 
C

CraigStu

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2014
Messages
4,012
Location
Blacksburg, Va
Thanks for this reminder. I just did a quick walk around and checked our 4 extinguishers. The pressure (?) gauges all have needles in the green. These are mostly the largest ones Lowes or HD sell so I assume not commercial models. Is there something else I need to do?
 
M

MOS3522

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 6, 2022
Messages
1,768
Location
Colorado
As a guy who is paranoid about fire, my .02 on the shop fire extinguisher situation:

I have two pressurized water 2.5 gallon extinguishers, one on either side of the garage doors. They are for handling any small rubbish or brush fires in or outside the building from welding or whatnot.

I have one 20 pound CO2 extinguisher near the roll cab. That is my first choice for any fire in the garage, especially one like the jet ski fire the OP described. They are pretty good at electrical and grease fires, and very importantly will not make an environmental hazard out of a fire zone like the MAPP dry chem style. (That MAPP powder will permanently destroy any electronics it touches and is impossible to clean up.)

I do have 3 of the ABC MAPP type, one by the house door and one on either side of the garage doors. These are for an unexpected crisis.

And I do have plans on the board for a 20,000 gallon fire pond, two dry hydrants and two pumps and hose setups. That project is on for later this summer.
 
S

Skooterj

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 11, 2021
Messages
747
Location
Indiana
I have started to put everything maintenance related into my Google Calendar. I made sure to add the fire extinguishers to the list this morning. I'm sure there is some sort of app for this. It is so easy to forget about any of this stuff when life gets busy.
 
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