Is it necessary to carry a fire extinguisher on the highway?
2 Answers
7-seater and above passenger vehicles and trucks must be equipped with fire extinguishers when on the road. Private cars with 5 seats or fewer are not subject to this requirement. Here is additional information: 1. Most vehicle fire extinguishers nowadays are dry powder extinguishers, which can be placed horizontally or vertically without worrying about the contents rupturing. A reminder to car owners: If the fire extinguisher is placed in the trunk, do not cover it with items; it should be easily accessible for quick retrieval. 2. In case of a car fire, stay calm, pull over to the roadside to prepare for self-rescue, and remember to turn off the engine to cut off the fuel supply. Then call the fire department for help—do not rush to put out the fire yourself in case the flames become uncontrollable. Quickly retrieve the fire extinguisher, locate the source of the fire, stand upwind to avoid burns, pull out the safety pin of the extinguisher, aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, and spray. Remember to direct the spray at the base of the flames, not randomly at the fire itself.
From a safety perspective, it is indeed advisable to carry a fire extinguisher when driving at high speeds. Although there is no national mandatory requirement for small vehicles to be equipped with one, the high speed on highways and slow emergency response mean that in case of smoke from the engine compartment or overheating tires leading to a fire, having a fire extinguisher can enable timely self-rescue. I once witnessed a car in front of me emitting smoke, and the driver managed to extinguish the initial fire using their own fire extinguisher after pulling over—otherwise, the consequences could have been unimaginable. Now, I always keep a 1kg dry powder fire extinguisher in my trunk, securely fixed in a corner without taking up much space. Regularly checking that the pressure gauge needle is in the green zone is sufficient, as safety is no trivial matter.
