Fire extinguisher location(s)

[richard5933]

We've got four new fire extinguishers. One is mounted in the bedroom at the rear of the coach. One is mounted in the electrical equipment bay.

I'm thinking of mounting the other in the engine bay somewhere, and the fourth will go in the compartment at the front of the bus (next to front entry door) to replace the one that's still there from the factory.

Does this sound about right? Any suggestions for better placement?

[oltrunt]

I'd have to have a bigger bus just to house 4 fire extinguishers!  I have one at the entrance (visible through the glass in the door and one near the stove..  Jack

[lostagain]

I used to have one in the engine compartment, but then I thought that I might not be able to get it in case of a fire in there. So I moved it to just inside the rear baggage bay, passenger side. I think it might be more accessible there. The other one is in the bathroom, which is half way between the bedroom and the kitchen. That is only a couple of paces in either direction. I have been meaning to place one near the front as well.

JC

[Jim Eh.]

I am interested in an automatic system for the engine bay. I have seen too many units on the side of the road up in flames because the coach has had an engine fire (or tire fire) that got way out of control even before the driver knew there was a fire.

My thoughts on other locations are dependent on my first priority of getting out so I will have one in the middle of the bus  (kitchen area) to enable me to get to an exit. More than likely any hand held fire extinguisher will not have the capacity to put out a full involved fire but it will (or should) buy you enough time to exit safely.

[buswarrior]

I miss rvsafteyman... check the archives here and at BNO for some of his good fire stuff. He had his coach all set up with detection and heat measuring equipment.

The onboard fire suppression in all the modern transits and motorcoaches is pretty slick. Continuous triggering wire looped strategically around the engine room, melts through, the large bottle feeds piped nozzles, again strategically aimed at the usual culprits. There is a manual triggering device in the driver's area as well.

These systems are installed in the faint hope of recovering the capital, they are not for saving lives.

Fighting fires is the way to die...

Television and movies have led us to believe we can fool around with this. DON'T!!!

You should be using the breath left in your lungs to get out, not find a fire extinguisher.

If the smoke detector did not alert you to leave before there is flame, something has gone terribly wrong with your salvation... Your very next breath may be your last, GET OUT!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[richard5933]

Maybe I was being naive, but to me the extinguishers located inside were to 1) Help us get out, and 2) Possibly extinguish a small stove top fire or something similar. I'd never consider one of the handheld extinguishers capable of anything more.

The extinguishers located outside were really for use should something go wrong while working on a system. That's why I've got one in the compartment with the electrical equipment and the other going in the engine bay.

From some of the comments, I'm wondering if anything short of towing a fire truck behind us is worth considering.

[edvanland]

Having been in the business for a number of years this is what I always recommended. One ABC in the bedroom so you have something to try to get you out, a small halogen one in the kitchen area for small grease fires and one by the front door that is accessible from the outside when you open the doors. Outside by the engine compartment. All should be ABC rated as that covers everything, the kitchen as I said should be a halogen, that way if you have to use it is not a major clean up. I know I used a ABC on a propane ignited fire in a 8 cab over camper, when we sold it several years you could still stir up powder in it.   

[PP]

Every federal govt vehicle is required to have a fire ext that is checked monthly and serviced annually. If you use it, you will probably lose your job unless your are Red Carded (trained and certified) to fight fires. I have 3 small all service extinguishers inside the coach. One in the bedroom, one in the kitchen, and one right by the door. I have 6 in the bays. I do not have one in the engine bay. If there is an engine fire, I'm not going anywhere near it. Burn baby burn. I have one in each forward bay, 2 in my tool bay ( I make sparks alot) 1 in the bay next to the LP tank, 1 in the genny bay, and 1 in the sewer bay (flamable gases) . If the coach ever starts to burn and I can reach an extinguisher, I will only use it to aid in the DW's or my own escape. I've mounted these extinguishers so they are out of the way but accessible if the bay door is open. I also have a fire shovel so I can bury the beast after the smoke dies down.
This question is reminiscent of 'Who carries a spare?' Some will and some won't. To each their own.
Will

[Hi yo silver]

A number of you have offered valuable comments here. Obviously, the activation of a portable, hand-held extinguisher depends on someone being able to access it safely. As has already been said, if the purpose is to extinguish a battery fire, don't put the extinguisher in the same compartment. The other critical consideration here is the toxicity of the smoke. When synthetic materials burn, they produce a number of toxic gases whose names would require several more lines in this post. We're not talking about campfire smoke here; this will be some nasty stuff! The effects of inhaling it aren't worth whatever you might save from the fire. (As I often have said to my kids, "Lecture number 31", or whatever.) One last comment. When you turn in at night, always check for obstructions that might block your path to the exit. You should assume you will be awakened by a smoke alarm and have to find your way out in choking, blinding smoke. Ideally, there should be two exits, one up front and an operable window near the rear. Here's hoping none of us ever have to deal with such a situation, but preparation provides peace of mind. Safe busing, my friends!
Dennis

[lostagain]

The commercial buses I drive only have one or two extinguishers near the front. The late model buses have a fire suppression system in the engine compartment.

When I pick up a new group, I always spend 10 minutes explaining all the safety procedures. The most important of which is how to open the windows and roof hatches to escape, especially if the front door is blocked, and the driver and tour director are injured or dead and unable to help. People have died because they didn't know the windows opened, or how to open them...

You need to think about your escape plan. You probably will never need it, but if you did...

JC

[richard5933]

We did actually need to use our escape plan on our last bus. Door was jammed shut.

Found out the hard way that Peninsula windows are more difficult to climb out of than expected. Glad our current bus had the factory push out windows should the need arise.

[Jim Eh.]

You could have used the fire extinguisher to break the window.