Fire extinguishers, new owners need to read this!

Hi all, just a PSA to remind all new 348/355 owners to be SURE you have a serviced Halon fire extinguisher in your car within reach at all times, and that you're familiar and comfortable with it's removal and activation.

Luckily I had practiced with mine, and the first time I tried about 6 years ago it took me a full 2 minutes to get the damn thing free.

Had a very close call today and caught Satan in time before things went really awry. No pictures yet, but let's just say I got damn lucky and should be a firefighter!! My mechanic praised my quick reactions, and he couldn't believe how little damage there is to the car. My new nickname at the shop is "The Flash..."

No paint damage on the decklid top or bottom, just a melted fuel filler tube (c'mon Ferrari, thin plastic??), fried DS fan harness, very minor rear windscreen trim damage (the sticky exterior one) and a few other small melted bits and hoses. Luckily the Saldana all-aluminum radiator didn't even blink. My car is a 50k mile early 95 B that wasn't part of the fuel-block recall so guessing I still have original fuel lines. Also found out tonight the gasket between the fuel filler tube and the gas tank hard inlet tube fails commonly on 348/355's and Scuderia Rampante makes a better gasket. Just another thing to do to your 348/355.

The insurance company better be kissing my feet tomorrow when I make the claim!! I just saved them $50k or so.

I will also emphatically say that the 1 pound extinguishers like I had won't be enough in the event of a large fire... Things are still a blur, but I think I only got about 4-5 seconds of spray time out of that little bugger but to be fair it was at least 8 years old, probably much older.

Good luck and remember, get a 2-5 pound HALON extinguisher!! (Also check your mirrors a lot especially when pushing it, that's how I spotted the wispy smoke coming through the decklid vents)

 

Thank God you are okay.

And as a secondary and much more less important factor, luckily you have minimal damage.

 

Thanks Mike! I'm REALLY blessed I didn't set the mountain that is littered with $10M+ homes on fire! My insurance definitely wouldn't have covered me burning down most of the town of Woodside, CA. It's a VERY expensive area I was passing through and I was on the side of a very dry steep windward mountainside under a very dry tree... Enzo looked out for me today, boy howdy!!

If those homeowners only knew what almost happened, man I could get some really nice bottles of wine!!

 

Good to hear you are ok, H. I always toy with the idea of getting an extinguisher. I guess I will start looking again.

 

EDIT: Thank you Albert, I'm having a hard night. Your PM box is full. Get a Halon extinguisher ASAP my friend, not kidding. The terror factor was EXTREMELY high by the side of the road today. Put any halon extinguisher in your car until you figure out the perfect solution, please! Toss it behind the seat or something.

I got very, very lucky today, and luck strikes like lightning.

 

Thanks PM box now open again

 

Understandable given your state of mind, but the extinguisher becomes a deadly projectile in a crash if not mounted securely.

Being able to make it out of the burning car alive would be my primary concern, saving the car secondary. If incapacitated (passed out or trapped after an accident), a handheld extinguisher won't do any good. Also, opening the engine hatch, which I presume you were able to do since you caught it early, would fan the flames due to a fresh supply of oxygen.

Seems to me what we really want is an automatically triggered system inside the engine bay, like what I have on the Ford GT:

Ford GT Halon Fire Suppression System

A discussion about an engine bay fire extinguisher recently resurfaced on this forum, without resolution, but obviously there is interest. Perhaps we could get a Safecraft system designed for the 355?

 

I remember we once discussed built-in fire suppression systems with in-cabin activation levers. That would be a good (albeit more expensive) precaution. Having both would be ideal.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

I'm glad you add ok. In an emergency who knows what is the best solution. The one that worked was the best for you thankfully

There was a thread about a suppression system out there but the company shutdown after an incident with the system as I recall.

The wife has been bugging me to get an extinguisher . I'll just get one and mount it for now.

 

Glad you are OK. I'd like to get an extinguisher but don't love seeing it in the cabin..

 

How did the fire start? Leaking hose running from the filler cap to the tank?

 

Yes

We need to know what caused the fire.
I also drive a 1995 355 with 57000 miles on the clock.

You got me concerned!

 

Yes I could see the headlines now

Ferrari starts wildfire LOL

Glad your OK and car has minimal damage, good save!!


Remember folks dont be a hero if its out of control get yourself and everyone else away from the fire.

 

That's our best guess right now, will probably know more later today or tomorrow.

I think the ideal solution would be an auto-trip halon system, augmented by an in-cabin release as posted earlier.

 

Thank you! You'd like even less to see your gorgeous 355 on fire and be absolutely helpless to stop it, trust me. Get one asap.

 

Good post, thanks. Agreed, any system should be very securely stowed.

 

Glad you saved it...

I too would like to know the cause.

 

Thanks Tim!

 

I do agree. Still looking to understand the root cause.

 

Me too!

 

Helpful link:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/search.php?searchid=7947474

 

Had you just stopped for gas and fire started as you drove? I know Dave Helms was working on replacement for the pipe that ran from the filler to the tank. I have seen that plastic pipe and it looks pretty flimsy.

 

Yes, you refreshed my memory, still a bit cloudy and dream-like. I had just filled up 2-3 miles prior and was taking some turns spiritedly, nothing crazy when I saw what I thought was a tiny bit of steam coming through the deck lid vents, then smelled the fumes and realised it was smoke. Pulled over as soon as possible, grabbed ext and dumped it into the bay.

At this point my money is on the fuel filler tube or gasket, but who knows.

 

I too suffered from an engine fire with an old carburetor car some years ago. The thing that saved me was 1) noticing smoke from the car, and pulling over, 2) having a powder fire extinguisher in the car to pull out and douse it out.

Did not have any problem with opening the hood and "fanning the fire." It was going to burn unless I put it out. So, I opened the hood and put it out.

The powder made a mess of things, but one day cleaning was all it took.

 

We should start a club!

That's what's cool about Halon, no mess to clean up.