Best Place for Fire Extinguisher?

I've had my Fire Extinguisher strapped in the rear boot behind the engine bay on my 328. I got to thinking that it is probably the most impractical place to store a fire extinguisher as (obviously) the likely place for a fire to start would be in the engine bay.

Where are you guys storing your fire extinguishers?

 

See www.TradeTutor.com/raceprep/

 

Money no object, you can put in a built in fire system that has been homologated for racing.

 

Or you can use zip ties to attach the fire extinguisher bracket to the spare wheel (328) in the front compartment. Pro: In a collision the extinguisher is not flying aroung the cockpit. Cons: It is not readily at hand, and you lose the bling factor of showing off your Ferrari-decalled Halon fire extinguisher to an adoring public. Should you have a front impact preventing you from getting to the extinguisher and have a fire in back as well--then step away from the vehicle and call the insurance company. You don't want the car any more anyway.

Cheers, Mark

 

Front compartment; I have plenty of room. I used to keep it behind the passenger seat but I found it took almost 30 seconds to get at it as a test; in an emergency with panic it would take longer! My center tunnel is quite high.

Ken

 

In front of the passenger seat:
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Great suggestions. Thanks a $1M.

 

That's the one I remember - I think under the passengers knees is the best place. Not in the way, easy to grab.

 

Has anyone actually had to use one? Curious.

 

Mine is neatly tucked in front of the front passenger seat. Nobody ever really notices it and the harness to keep it secure is really EASY to snap off at a time of panic... I am seriously considering replacing mine with the gas version (the new generation of Halon stuff - whatever it is called) which does no harm to the engine, interior, or electrical system.

Good man - always better to be safe than sorry!

 

I pulled mine after seeing a bad wreck on a local Ferrari drive. Thankfully, there was no need to discharge the Halon. (For that matter, its amazing everyone survived).

 

Yep, caravaning with a friend from Huntsville to Atlanta, smoke started coming out of the rear of his car. We pulled off to the side of the Interstate and got his engine bonnet open... he had a small oil leak that had ignited into flames on his exhaust. Thank goodness we had an extinguisher handy! Got the flames put out right away, and no damage to the car! That just confirmed it: better safe than sorry. It's cheap insurance and can keep a small problem from becoming a big one.

 

My Euro M-6 had it mounted in front of the drivers seat on the floor. It seemed weird yet racey when I bought the car , after a while it became part of the car and now, years after selling the it ,I still miss having an extinguisher there in my other cars. It should be mandated.

 

I keep a small one behind the driver's seat in my Dino. Just enough room with seat all the way back. Not tied down at all. I put a small dark towel around it to stop rattle. So far have never had to use it but it is handy.

John

 

I have a bracket on the front passenger size seat as well. I have been told for a engine fire you need twice the size but as Michael says it will probably work if you catch it soon enough!
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http://www.ioportracing.com/faq/fire.htm

"Pull the bottle":
http://www.safecraft.com/index.asp
http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=IPRS&Category_Code=FES
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/safecraft.php

Or one that triggers itself:
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/active.php

(I gather that some of the motorsports models of installed units from safecraft also have thermal trigger heads.)

 

I made a special bracket out of aluminum to mount the extinguisher, via the seat mounts - no holes drilled into the floor.

With it on the side of the seat, it's out of the way (won't be kicked).
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