Jetset

My Feedback: (2)

FWIW, I picked up a 20lb C02 extinguisher from a local fire equipment installer. They have lots of "outdated" extinguishers. Outdated meaning they cant be used in schools, buildings, etc anymore so they get replaced, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. I have an unlimited supply here.
If you're looking for C02, might be worth it to try your local installer. I paid $70 bucks for it.

Desertlakesflying

My Feedback: (28)

Aqueous Film Forming Foam puts out fuel fires right now, with very little even though this small can will put out a fire about 20' by 20' in the grass.

Nothing but soap and water. the worst that happens is you need a towel.

Co2 is NOT a good option for extinguishing fuel fires

DMichael

My Feedback: (5)

Wow, that is what I was afraid of and thanks for the info. I will look at some of the options suggested.

gooseF22

FWIW.. I picked mine up at the local fire supply too.. CO2 version..

Also a battery powered Leaf Blower is the most effective fire puter outer during start, It will scavenge a tailpipe right now, and put out most starting fires with no damage.

For putting out a crash fire, water is the most effective because kerosine soaked fiberglass or wood burns right through a CO2 blast.. Thats why we are supposed to have Water on the flight line at events.. I have an old training unit that uses air pressure over water, I usually place on the flight line at events.. Some events use a backpack sprayer on the crash cart.. that works too.

I find overall the leaf blower to be the best tool to have handy. Its a firefighters secret weapon.. look it up.

Zeeb

My Feedback: (41)

There are not a lot of fire extinguisher service companies which do CO2 anymore, but that's the place to find one. Sometimes stores will replace all their extinguishers at once leaving some good ones at the service center. Most of these places will give 'em a once over and provide you a serviceability tag saying it complies with local ordinances, so you can be sure it's a good unit. The only thing I would suggest is that you get a fresh hydro static (pressure) test as those are necessary every five years, and it'll have a fresh fill as well.

I got a pair of 5 pounders, one for me and one for my friend, for $65.00 each with fresh hydros and these were Kidde brand that were $210.00 new.

Zeeb

My Feedback: (41)

Usually the reason that a CO2 extinguisher becomes "outdated" is that it can no longer pass the hydro static pressure test which is required every five years. There is a bunch of pressure in a charged CO2 extinguisher and I would NOT buy one that wasn't pressure tested or "hydroed" as the firefighters call them. Also, you cannot use just part of one and put it back in the holder. If you use one at all, it needs to be recharged. Some will hold the residual pressure but you won't have a full charge. Others will leak and be totally useless next time you need one.

@gooseF22 has some excellent advice as well.

Retired Firefighter/Paramedic

Jetset

My Feedback: (2)

I was going to get a battery powered leaf blower just to help cooling the turbine during shutdown, but Goose's advice sounds great for fires so i will definitely be getting one now.

gooseF22

cooling trick: When the turbine is spinning down, don't blow directly into the face of the turbine or down the intakes.. point the blower down the outside of the tail parallel to the tailpipe where it creates a venturi effect on the tailpipe, it will gently pull air thru the tailpipe and allow the turbine to cool more slowly..

It has always been my opinion that you shouldn't shock cool a turbine. I also saw a little exhaust fan that a guy had.. it had a pipe, and he laid it in the tail pipe, and it gently pulled hot air through it from the tail pipe side.

YMMV.. my opinion only.

SECRET AGENT

My Feedback: (18)

I use the leaf blower down the intake so the starter motor doesn't have to cool the motor down. As long as I'm spinning the motor with the leaf blower my starter motor never engages and saves not only the wear and tear of the starter motor/bendix etc, but saves the battery and gives me more starts on a charge.

paulsf86

My Feedback: (52)

Another down side to CO2 is the "retempering" effect on the internal metal parts. Going from very hot to very cold in an instant. Halatron extinguishers are a bit expensive to start but can be recertified/refilled as time goes on. Best to have checked once a year.