Is a Fire Extinguisher Mandatory in a Vehicle?
3 Answers
Regulations stipulate that passenger vehicles with more than seven seats and large trucks must carry fire extinguishers, while there are no explicit requirements for smaller vehicles. Specific details are as follows: 1. Vehicles should be equipped with a compliant triangular warning sign. Medium-sized (and above) passenger vehicles and hazardous goods transport vehicles must be equipped with a fire extinguisher and firefighting equipment that are within their validity period. The fire extinguisher should be securely installed on the vehicle body and easily accessible. Violators will be warned or fined between 20-200 yuan. 2. There are no such mandatory requirements for private cars, but during the annual vehicle inspection, a fire extinguisher must be placed inside the vehicle; otherwise, the inspection will not be passed. For safety reasons, it is advisable to have one. For ordinary vehicles, the recommended types of onboard fire extinguishers are the 1kg dry powder extinguisher and the 1L water-based extinguisher. These are relatively easy to carry and can be securely fixed in the car.
I've been in long-distance freight transportation for almost ten years, and to be honest, most drivers keep a fire extinguisher handy. Legally, private cars aren't required to have one, but commercial trucks and buses must. In our line of work, we often transport flammable goods. If the engine compartment starts smoking, a quick spray from the extinguisher can solve the problem. Two summers ago, I saw an SUV in the next lane catch fire, and the driver could only wait helplessly for the fire department. Keeping a fire extinguisher in the car is like buying insurance—it takes up little space, isn't expensive, and you just need to check the pressure gauge regularly. Remember, dry powder extinguishers are the most practical; avoid water-based ones. In a critical moment, it can save both the car and lives, much faster than calling for help and waiting.
I used to work in an auto repair shop and have seen too many cases of spontaneous combustion. Keeping a fire extinguisher in your car is absolutely essential—even if regulations don't mandate it, I strongly recommend carrying one. Modern vehicles have numerous electronic components, and issues like aging wires or fuel line leaks can easily trigger fires. Store a 1kg dry powder extinguisher in the trunk, and regularly check that the pressure gauge stays in the green zone. Remember not to place it under the driver’s seat, as high temperatures can shorten its lifespan. In reality, vehicle fires often start with small sparks, and extinguishing them within thirty seconds is most effective. The fire extinguisher in my own car has saved the day twice—once when a short circuit caused smoke and another when a rear-end collision ignited the engine.
