Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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adondo that was a great post. I picked up our first 2.5 gallon water extinguisher today and have Cold Fire (5 gallons) on its way to start some training. Thanks
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WTD44
Ca.
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jjammo wrote:After reading recent posts about brake failures, it brought a question to mind. I've read alot about fire extinguishers being practically useless during a brake fire. Would it be useful to attach your water hose to your outdoor shower to put out fire and/or cool brakes during an emergency? Seems it could be beneficial. What do you think. I'm thinking of doing that prior to hitting the road on my trips. Then its ready just in case.
IMHO, If you get your brakes so hot that they catch on fire, you probably need to re-think your driving habits. If you have a tire fire, you arn't going to put it out with a shower hose and water. Just kiss the moho goodby and get the h. away from it. It's toast unless the fire dept. gets there real quick and has foam.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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WTD44 you may want to review some of the tire fire fighting video clips and what jjammo actually typed before you twist his words and make a misleading statement. It OK to be afraid of fire and take a defeated position. Just to not knock those who research the issues related to fires and do not take a defeated position. As others have posted short of a well fanned DP engine fire many times a fire may be discovered even before the flame stage has been been reached and can be suppressed and cooled well below the re flash point in seconds.
NO one is talking about walking up to a raging MH fire with a can of water, foam, halon, etc.
Brake/tire fires under discussion have been due to mechanical failures and not driving habits.
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WTD44
Ca.
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I based my comments on advice on what you would hear from almost any professional fire fighter. As far as mechanical problems causing fires, you are certainly correct. But if I had a dragging brake I think I would know it before it bacame a fire.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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I would have thought one would know dragging brake but after the fade sets in I guess the drag is so very small it is hard to tell but you read what those who have been there report.
MAC seems to be a professional fire fighter. 
MAC the Fire Guy
"When using an extinguisher to put out the surface flames, make sure to totally penetrate the fuel so that it’s cooled. Otherwise, the fire can flare up again. This is when having an additional fire extinguisher is important. If you use your only fire extinguisher to stop the fire and don’t have another one to cool the area down, the fire could restart again and you won’t have anything to fight it with.
Besides fire extinguishers, if you have a quick-disconnect fitting on your water hookup, these hoses can be unhooked instantly and be used as a tool to fight a fire. If a nearby vehicle is burning and you cannot move your coach but can safely stay close enough to keep it hosed down, you may be able to save it.
Always leave large fires to the fire department, and only fight small fires that are contained, within reach, and that you can fight with your back toward a safe escape. If you have the slightest doubt if you should fight the fire, don’t attempt it! Instead get out and away fast."
I added the quotes in the edit so everyone knows they came from the master and not me. If one is interested in fighting small RV fires I think you will gain a lot of info from MAC's web site.
* This post was
edited 08/20/08 10:51pm by Gale Hawkins *
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WTD44
Ca.
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OK Gale, you can have the last word. You are obviously very smart and know most, if not all, about evrything. .
(That is why these forums are so'ooo boring.)
Bye.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Thanks but that was MAC talking below the link.
I will go back and put quote marks around the part from the link that I pasted in. I find MAC interesting but if one is not interested in the subject of fire fighting I am sure it seems boring.
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johsens
California
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This seems to have become a touchy subject, but I believe that WTD44 does have a valid point. If your MH has a dragging brake or a braking problem, it behooves you to recognize that long before you are faced with a wheel/brake failure or fire. A few years ago I was very nearly killed as a result of a tow truck driver who was towing my dump truck down a steep grade overheating his brakes. He had nearly 40 years experience as a Class A driver and yet he screwed up. I jumped out at somewhere around 50 MPH and suffered a thrice-broken arm, lacerated scalp, broken ankle and no small amount of road rash. He survived but not in very good condition (much worse off than me).
My point is that I see professional truck drivers who overheat the brakes far too often, and those of us with little experience in driving these large and heavy vehicles can very often overheat the brakes without a second (or even any) thought. I think the caution to take care not to heat the brakes up (let alone begin to overheat them) is good advice.
Having fire suppression equipment is always a great idea, preventing the need to use it is better. Having both is best.
Hans
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jjammo
Medford, OR
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Geez! I was just thinking of a little extra safety precautions a person could make in an emergency. Personally I take pride in my driving and the way I handle the grades. I also carry extra extinquishers and the right types. I was just thinking of ways that might help others based on the posts on brake failures. Thanks for the backup Gale. Maybe i'll just keep my ideas and suggestions to myself. Didn't mean to get anybody riled up.
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bill h
coastal reconquista
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Gale's got it right. Study and follow MAC's recommendations.
And, it is possible to have a dragging brake without knowing it. I have seen that on the rear of a car or pickup, and it got REALLY hot and started grabbing, but I am not sure a heavily-loaded MH brake, especially the rear, would actually grab like a lighter vehicle.
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