[ihc] Fire extinguisher story

[John Hofstetter <hofs@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On May 10, 2004, at 7:23 PM, Ryan Moore wrote:

> On the bright side... I do have a fire extinguisher I keep in the 
> scout...
> just in case...  I think it's a good idea to have one in any older 
> vehicle
> (or any vehicle in general really).  Better safe than sorry.
>
> -Ryan
Years ago, i bought two "Dual Halon" fire extinguishers, one of  which 
I carry in the Scout and the other in the Grand Cherokee. They are 
about the height of a soda can, and maybe 2/3'd as large in diameter. I 
never expected much from them, but they were dirt cheap at the time, 
and because of their size, I figured I could carry them in the glove 
compartment and/or console.

After BF Goodrich repaired my torn-out front shackle mount near the 
Salton Sea, I went out again into the "wilds" of the desert. As I was 
cresting the top of a mud hill, I saw a Bronco crossing the side hill 
below me, and applied the brakes forcefully. I didn't even slow down. 
Due to a merciful Providence (thank you, Rhode Island), the Bronco and 
I didn't quite come together.

Gravity finally stopped me, and I popped the hood to see where my 
brakes had gone. You may remember my telling you that the "lid" on the 
brake booster check valve had popped off, but I think I was too 
embarrassed to tell you that brake fluid was spitting out of the check 
valve and was hitting my Stan's headers and bursting into flame. I 
grabbed my little Dual Halon fire extinguisher and kept extinguishing 
flames until herself got back from looking at wild flowers and turned 
off the engine.

That little fire extinguisher was absolutely amazing! So, when I got 
back home, I went searching for a replacement. Hmm, seemed as if they 
were no longer available. Google search. Found some for  sale. Just 
under $90 each. I haven't replaced it  yet, probably never will. 
Apparently, they are now made from recycled "halon", which I guess is 
extremely expensive.

But they were dandy in their time. Anybody, besides me, remember the 
old pump Pyrene extinguisher? In my early teaching days, every school 
had one.

John Hofstetter