Trailer Fire

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Call this an "FYI".........**See update at bottom!

Some of you will remember "Professor95" from his many posts on the Tech Issues Forum - usually related to generators. (He's a PE & well qualified electrician).

He can be found now as a regular contributor on the Escapees HDT forum as "RandyA" (he tows his 5th wheel with an HDT).

He recently posted to that forum regarding the total destruction of his 5th wheel due to a fire - caused by Li-on batts in his golf cart.

He is/was looking for other forum members who had a hitch available for his HDT. However, it's worth scrolling through the thread for his posts regarding the *fire* details - and getting out at 3AM!!
(He managed that OK - but the 5th was a total loss).

Clicky - Professor95(s) Trailer Fire

NEW (2nd) thread by Randy - with additional photos.

Additional photos (Yikes!) Clicky.

Rehearse your EXIT plan!! - - Your life may depend on it.

~

[hone_eagle]

So firefighter guys - what would you recommend as a 'best' fire extinguisher?
Is there even one?
get out and run.........

[ol_Bombero-JC]

rjstractor wrote:

hone eagle wrote:

old guy wrote:
wow, what a picture of the fire. I was a firefighter for 30 years and when I saw that picture I could smell the fire smell. guess it's true about taking the fire out of the horse etc.

Just wondering is a lithium fire like a alinumin fire ?

scary?

Lithium batteries burn very intensely, like magnesium. A car fire in a Tesla or other EV can take 2000 gallons of water or more to extinguish. Nearly all of the car fires I have put out in my career are knocked down with 100 gallons or less.

Well said!
Some early VWs (beetles & vans) and Porsche 914s had magnesium trans-axle center sections.
They were real "eye openers" when a supposedly simple engine fire refused go out! Usually the fire was extinguished (only) after the fuel (the magnesium center section) was gone.

While you applied copious amounts of water, the original cause (like a fuel leak) would continually re-ignite adding to the problem.

:W

[rjstractor]

hone eagle wrote:

old guy wrote:
wow, what a picture of the fire. I was a firefighter for 30 years and when I saw that picture I could smell the fire smell. guess it's true about taking the fire out of the horse etc.

Just wondering is a lithium fire like a alinumin fire ?

scary?

Lithium batteries burn very intensely, like magnesium. A car fire in a Tesla or other EV can take 2000 gallons of water or more to extinguish. Nearly all of the car fires I have put out in my career are knocked down with 100 gallons or less.

[Splashers3]

OMG - I know Randy & Nancy (camped many times with them)and was totally unaware of this terrible accident. If anybody can pull through this it's Randy....he's an incredibly smart guy....his HDT is awesome. I'm glad they are OK.

Mike

[hone_eagle]

old guy wrote:
wow, what a picture of the fire. I was a firefighter for 30 years and when I saw that picture I could smell the fire smell. guess it's true about taking the fire out of the horse etc.

Just wondering is a lithium fire like a alinumin fire ?

scary?

[old_guy]

wow, what a picture of the fire. I was a firefighter for 30 years and when I saw that picture I could smell the fire smell. guess it's true about taking the fire out of the horse etc.

[ScottG]

That's terrible.
Hope ins. treats him OK.