Wednesday, October 24, 2012 • Sophie Rishworth
EVEN if every vehicle that stopped at the fatal car crash on Saturday night had been equipped with a fire extinguisher, they would not have been able to extinguish the blaze, say firefighters.
While the fire service recommends that it is advisable for people to carry a fire extinguisher in their cars, the 1kg portable types most often carried are only suitable for small fires, says fire safety investigator Derek Goodwin.
It is important that if extinguishers are carried in cars, people know how to use them and have them checked regularly — failure to do so can render the extinguisher useless when you want to use it in an emergency situation.
The contents of dry powder types can pack down. The powder needs to be loose for it to work.
Mr Goodwin said knowing how to use them and having them checked was essential so that they did not provide a false sense of security.
“There’s nothing wrong with carrying them around and they do assist. I have heard of small fires being put out.
“They’re not huge, these extinguishers you get for vehicles.
“They don’t have a large capacity or reservoir and they are not going to deal to something serious unless there’s a multitude of them.”
Mr Goodwin said people could not have done much at the accident scene.
The Ford Explorer that police say crossed the centre line, was engulfed in flames only minutes after it collided with a van travelling to Whatatutu.
Van driver 33-year-old mother-of-four Serena Smith, was killed. Three people in the Ford Explorer were also killed. The first on the scene managed to pull the 58-year-old driver to safety before his vehicle caught fire but were unable to release the others trapped in the vehicle.
“There was not much those people could have done to put out the fire without a multitude of firefighting mediums — even if every single car that stopped that night had one. Maybe if they had 9kg extinguishers it could have been different.”
If fires were small enough, and it was safe to use an extinguisher, then they could be used but once fires became too big, it was advisable to stand back until the fire service arrived, he said.
“If used incorrectly, they can spray in your face or if you happen to spray the ground and not on the fire, then it is wasted.”
Mr Goodwin questioned whether in the heat of the moment people would be able to use them.
Training on how to use extinguishers was available, he said.
Some industries make it compulsory for employees to carry fire extinguishers in their vehicles but Mr Goodwin questions whether it is an essential item for people on a tight budget to buy.