SMOTHER THAT FIRE

NZ Truth, Issue 1145, 10 November 1927, Page 14

SMOTHER THAT FIRE

How to Check Blazing Petrol

It is a good thing to know how to act when a car catches fire, and many people allow their vehicles to be burnt, simply because they are not aware of the elementary rules of extinguishing a petrol blaze.

■THE means of action can be summed I up m one comprehensive word: s "Smother." Petrol depends upon the presence of oxygen 1 to enable combustion to^take place. It draws this oxygen from the atmosphere, and if .the air supply is completely cut off the b.laze is automatically extinguished. Most cars that catch fire do so through the carburetter, by means of a back'rfire. This causes the exhaust gases to come out into the atmosphere via the inlet pipe and carburettor, in•stead of m the proper fashion, through* the exhaust pipe. As a back-fire is frequently accompanied by a sheet of flame it can easily set light to the carburettor, and thus is responsible for many blazes. If the carburettor , catches fire the first procedure is to turn off the supply tap at all costs, thus stopping the flow of further petrol from the tank. Then comes the job of smothering

the blaze. First and foremost on the list of remedies is the fire extinguisher; but untH the law compels each car to be fitted with such an appliance it may sometimes be necessary to adopt more primitive methods. Overcoats or . rugs, any substance that tends to smother is of use. Sand, earth or flour will ' help, especially if the location of the fire makes it difficult to use clothing or a rug. ' Water should bo avoided at all costs, as the petrol forms a film on the top of it and continues blazing.

Nor should an attempt be made to extinguish a small fire by beating at it with a cap. This merely fans the flames and causes them to spread. Every motorist should carry a fire extinguisher, for no engine is completely proof against- an occasional "back-fire," but everyone, -whether motorist or not, should remember that the golden rule for extinguishing blazing petrol is to "smother."