What should not be used to extinguish a vehicle fuel fire?
2 Answers
When a vehicle fuel fire occurs, water should not be used for extinguishment because fuel is lighter than water. When water comes into contact with fuel, instead of covering the fuel, it carries the fuel and spreads it around, expanding the fire. Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are also not suitable for extinguishing such fires as it's not an enclosed space. Below are solutions for vehicle fires: 1. When a car engine catches fire, the driver should stop the vehicle immediately, allow passengers to open doors and exit, then cut off the power supply, take out the onboard fire extinguisher, and spray directly at the base of the flames to put out the fire. 2. If a fire occurs during refueling, the driver should remain calm, stop refueling immediately, quickly drive the vehicle out of the gas station, and use either the onboard fire extinguisher or the gas station's fire extinguisher along with clothing to extinguish the flames on the fuel tank. If there is spilled fuel on the ground, use the depot area fire extinguisher or sand to put out the ground fire.
I just witnessed an experiment at the auto repair shop—never use water to extinguish a fuel fire! Pouring water on it only causes the oil to splatter, making the flames shoot up higher than a utility pole. Once, a car in our neighborhood caught fire spontaneously, and the security guard rushed in with a fire hose. Not only did the fire not go out, but the adjacent lawn also caught fire. The principle is simple: oil is lighter than water, so pouring water is like splashing oil in a hot pan, spreading the flames everywhere. To really put out the fire, you need a specialized fire extinguisher. It's best to keep a dry powder extinguisher tucked in a corner of the trunk—it's a hundred times more reliable than water in a critical moment.
