got yer fire extinquisher?

[Bird]

Thanks, Gordon. I printed that message to save. Of course, I went through that training, too, but it was a long time ago and my memory ain't that long.[img]/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

I do need to buy couple of fire extinguishers. I'd just plain forgotten about them. I'm down to one in the shop, don't think it's been touched in at least 6 years, and it rode around in an RV for 5 years before that. You can guess what the odds would be of it working now.[img]/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Bird

[skent]

I too have many extinguishers in the house, shop, and truck. I have checked the gauge's on a monthly (when I remember to) basis. But I have never thought to check to see if the powder is still a powder. Most were bought 5 years ago when we moved in.

What I figured I'd do is "test fire" one or two in the back yard and see if they work. I figure its a small price to pay (rather than wait till I need one to find out it's a dud). If I find out they don't work, I can assume I have to replace them all.

Thanks for the info.

Steve

[RobertN]

Gordon,
good post. Especially the classes of fires, and PASS.

Suiting up in a SCBA and going into zero visibilty is pretty wild. I've only had a couple opportunities outside of training, so far. It'll tell you if you're claustriphobic!

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

[DaveM]

Very good thread gang. Reminds me that I'm long over due for getting a couple of extinguishers for our new home.

Many years ago I was working/living in Germany doing TV transmitter work for the Armed Forces Television Network. One day my partner and I were tooling down the autobahn in our VW work van when we suddenly lost power. Fortunately we we're able to coast off the autobahn onto an exit ramp. A large Mercedes was following and frantically flashing his lights at us as we came to a stop. As soon as we came to a stop we saw smoke coming from the rear of the van. Jumped out, threw open the rear hatch, saw flames, then raced back to the cab to grab the fire extinguisher. When we got back to the fire and pulled the trigger it just went "psst". Wouldn't have put out a match! We had to back up for fear of explosion and watch it burn... along with aprx. $80K's worth of test equipment! The guy in the Mercedes had a car phone (pre cell phone days I believe) and called the fire dept. but they were too late to save much. Lesson learned? You betcha: check your fire extinguisher often and replace or recharge when needed!

Dave

[Rowski]

Great post Gordon. I took a firefighting course 14 years ago. Did the SCBA too, smoke machine broke the day we had to do trials but they had blacked out our masks. Did get to go into a "controlled" burn, we had to wait till the room flashed before they let us turn on the nozzle. That scared me pretty good. Not on the dept. anymore, no time and got diabetes shortly after the course.

Thanks. Did you get a new job? You may have mentioned it in another post but I'm way behind in posts due to the busy winter.

Derek

[gordon]

Thanks to all, hopefully it will help someone down the line. I know for that part of the training I was bored to tears. But after getting two months of stuff crammed between these ears I'm actually surprized that I remembered that much. Did well on that test.

Sorry to hear about the diabetes Derek, seems we all have something wrong with us in one shape or another.

My new job is plant maintenance mechanic at a state prison. It has 28 buildings inside the fence line and another 10 outside the fenceline. So there is plenty to work on. But in order to get the job I had to pass the two month correctional officer training. That is a story in itself![img]/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif[/img]

So far I've been doing a mix of steam work, plumbing, control work, electrical work, supervising outside contractors and inmate workers, (boring) but it all pays the same. Actually about the only thing I haven't done yet is much havc work, that will change before long with summer coming. My hours are 7-3 Tuesday thru Saturday. Love the job so far!

Gordon

[Rowski]

Gordon

That's great to hear about your job. Nice job, nice hours, probably good pay and compensation, you get all those federal holidays off too!

No need to be sorry for me. With insulin in my infusion pump I can keep my diabetes under real great control yet have the flexibilty to what I want when I want. I am fortunate that I got something that is controlable. My mom has lost 2 really good freinds within 6 months due to cancer. I just heard (rumor) that a guy I roomed with at tech college with has cancer. Tried to call but no replies. he's only in his mid 20's.

Best of luck with the new job!

Derek

[gordon]

Yup I know all to well about controlling something. I've got epilepsy, have to take pills twice a day for the rest of my life. But as long as I take the pills all is good. There are alot worse things that could happen.

Gordon

[DONOTDELETE]

Bird,
I think the best all round extingquisher to have in the car/boat/tractor is dry powder one to two sizes larger than you think is sufficient. If anyone ever uses an extinguisher in earnest they usually replace it with a larger one. A big dissapointment is to grab an extinguisher and have it only spray propellent gas but no powder. Vibration such as you get on a boat, car, tractor, etc. packs the powder. Frequently you should take it down from its mount and slap it on the bottom firmly with your hand. Also smack it a couple licks from the sides. You should be able to shake the unit and feel the powder shifting inside. I was in search and rescue and vessel inspection with the USCG Aux out of San Diego for 10 yrs and have enough horror stories to last a lifetime regarding extinguisher ignorance and mistreatment.

The first accessories to be added to my soon to be delivered L4610 HST cab model will be in priority order: fire extinguisher, two way radio, cup holder (can you believe A/C, heat, etc B U T no cup holder????) AM/FM/CD

Patrick

[DONOTDELETE]

i carry two fire extinguishers in both of my cars. i want to buy one for a tractor i am
getting, however i do not like the way these are secured. i do not think they would
stay on a tractor, because of all of the motion. is there a company that makes one
that has a gadget that really secures it in place, and where would i find one?
thanks for any help
william