In which countries are fire extinguishers compulsory in cars?
In Europe, including Belgium, Poland, Turkey and Greece, all motorists are required to have a fire extinguisher in their personal vehicle.
French law does not require private individuals to fit their cars with fire extinguishers. However, according to the decree of March 2, 1995 on the fitting of fire extinguishers to goods vehicles, heavy goods vehicles and commercial vehicles are required to do so.
But it's a good idea to have one, even if you're a private individual. Anyone can be confronted with a vehicle fire, whether as the result of an accident or mechanical overheating. Flames can quickly take on considerable proportions and reach the fuel.
Which extinguisher should be used in the event of a fuel or oil fire on a vehicle?
In the case of vehicle fires, the most suitable extinguishers are ABC powder extinguishers. The extinguishing agent is effective against the three main classes of fire (A, B and C).
This type of extinguisher contains a highly corrosive and irritating powder. It is also unsuitable for electrical fires.
A CO2 (carbon dioxide) extinguisher can also be chosen to equip a car: it is effective on oil and hydrocarbon fires (class B) and extinguishes electrical fires without causing damage to equipment. Carbon dioxide as an extinguishing agent leaves no residue.
It's essential to select an extinguisher that is CE and NF certified.
A 1kg portable dry powder extinguisher with pressure gauge is a good size.
How to extinguish a vehicle fire?
If a fire breaks out in your vehicle :
- Take your fire extinguisher, place it on the ground and remove the pin.
- Press the handle to impact the gas cartridge, keeping your head away from the top of the appliance.
- To extinguish the fire effectively, aim at the base of the flame and empty your extinguisher.
What type of extinguisher should I use to put out a car battery fire?
Generally based on lithium-ion technology, electric cars are very difficult for firefighters to control in the event of a fire. Indeed, these fires cannot be extinguished as easily as a petrol or diesel car fire. The battery can burn for up to 24 hours, and the fire can sometimes reignite after being extinguished by professionals.
Faced with these constraints, the emergency services struggle to find suitable solutions: intervening with conventional hoses, but consuming a very large quantity of water for limited effectiveness; letting the vehicle burn, which can generate obvious problems; or immersing the vehicle in a tank filled with water, which requires considerable resources. However, more suitable solutions are emerging, such as specific fire blankets or adapted extinguishing systems.
