Fire Safety Story (long)

[echrisconnor]

I thought I'd share an interesting experience I had last week at my Driver's Ed. It taught me some lessons and I also thought it might help others have safer driving experiences.

I was doing a driver's ed at Second Creek near Denver. My instructor and I had gone out for a great session in my car. It was my first time at this track and although her instruction was excellent, I wanted to see how the track should be run. She offered to take me out in her car during her run group to show me the line.

My instructor's car was a fully vintage race prepped 70 T. Full cage, hotrod motor, stripped interior, race seats, 5 pt harnesses, lexan windows... Very nice car with a beautiful all purple paint job.

We blasted around the track for a few laps at a great speed. She really knows how to drive that track and what the right line. After a little while, the car started sputtering and running poorly. We immediately pitted in.

As we were pulling off the track, I commented to her "I smell gas." It was pretty strong, and we both acknowledged that something wasn't right. As we pulled into the paddock there was a big "BOOM." She immediately stopped the car and shut down the ignition and fuel pump (separate switches). A second later, I hear people yelling "FIRE!"

Now, I'm pretty new to this sort of thing and don't know exactly how to react. I'm strapped in. The door on the passenger side doesn't open easily. I look over and see her pull the pin on the on board fire system and try to yank the handle. Nothing happens. I look in the rear-view and can see flames moving around from the back side of the car towards me very quickly. I feel the heat. I'm outta there. Out of my harness and out the window in about 2 seconds.

About 2 seconds later, the safety crew was on the car with fire extinguishers and put it out. My instructor was also out of the car about the same time I exited. The fire didn't have time to spread, and was fairly localized to the engine compartment and right rear quarter.

In a post-mortem inspection, it appeared that the engine compartment fuel pressure gauge had worked it's way loose in the Earl's fitting. It had sprayed fuel into the compartment and naturally caught fire. The on-board fire system has TWO pins. One in the car and one at the tank. The one at the tank had never been pulled thereby making it impossible to trigger the system from within the car. The damage appeared to me to be largely cosmetic. The paint will need work and lots of clean up in general getting the chemicals off the car, but no apparent serious damage. We're both fine.

Lessons learned: Always think about how you're going to get out of a situation before you get into one (anyone see Ronin). I remember thinking when getting in the car about how I'd get out quickly if I had to. Also, if you have an on-board fire system check both your pins!

Drive safely.

[makaio]

Glad you're OK & nobody else got hurt.

[clnilsen]

As someone who just had an engine fire recently, I can completely appreicate this. What a mindset change after you've gone though something like that.

Chuck

[s_wilwerding]

On a more upbeat note, I also had a female instructor for my first DE. I don't know how an instructor could have done any better than she did - I guess the women are better teachers (and in some cases better drivers) than the men.

[smestas]

Glad everyone got out OK!

Thanks for the lesson.

[mikeferg75]

Saw the whole thing, glad you and Marcia got out ok! Was very scarey to say the least. I'll introduce myself at the next event, as I have seen you around. Ferg.

[dotorg]

The best DE instructor I've had was a woman, too... Man she was fast! And so smooth around the turns. Inspiring.

(Wow, that sounded really pervy!)



In all seriousness, though, I think s_wilwerding is right...

[RoninLB]

not for nothing.. but after you figure out your fire supression/before a fire happens.. double what you figured on..

I need a fume detector for a carb install.. FI fumes are much more enclosed/generally....................Ron

[Emission]

Thanks for the story. I'm sure you'll have everyone checking their fire systems next time!

Funny, one of my best instructors was also a woman!

[MMARSH]

Something else to add, Practice getting out of your car with all your gear on. How often do you get into the car, close the door, then put your belts on, your helmet and then your gloves. Practice taking down the window net and getting out of the car in a hurry, It's alot different then at the end of a session.

Something else, It's funny because the best students I've ever instructed have also been women.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by MMARSH

Practice getting out of your car with all your gear on. Practice taking down the window net and getting out of the car in a hurry, It's alot different then at the end of a session.

not a pro... but I'm w/ Mike on this one.

there's more than his literal words happening here..
like at high heart beat levels 60% of your brains are scattered.. so it's almost like training a dog. The "HABIT" of the moves lessens the need for brains.. and an old pro tunnel rat friend would say that "if you practice with your eyes closed, your imprinting your brain for the moves".. and underwater rescue guys create the "Habit" unconsciously thru experience in black water , under dangerous conditions, a little at a time, because it's so complicated.

I have plenty more BS, but this is enough for someone who is serious about this subject....................Ron

[addictionMS]

This is just another great example of how harsh racing is on a car and why a rgid routine of touching every bolt with a wrench is required. Things you would swear will never come loose, do. So inspect every thing. I suggest this also applies to stiffened and lowered street cars.

Mine seem to have decided that it was the trani cross member that will come loose. On my race car, I found one of the bolts that holds it to the chassis was missing, so I checked my street car, and sur enough the two bolts that hold the mount to the cross member were missing. I am very careful to torque everything and will put new lock nuts whereever I can. Still the stiffness of the chassis and suspensions will shake things loose. On our RX3 we actually shook the carb so hard one of the venturies cracked and broke off falling into the carb causing it to jam in the full open position while on the track.

So check everything all the time.

Jim

[Dantilla]

When I got my SCCA license (in a Neon!), the school had us all practice a quick exit from the car. Good school.

There are advantages to an engine fire- I got my '73 from an insurance auction after it had an engine fire. Perfect candidate for it's current 3.2

Originally posted by echrisconnor

Lessons learned: Always think about how you're going to get out of a situation before you get into one
Drive safely.

Very clever advice. It works when driving on the road too. Always make sure have an escape route. Never pull up 1 inch from the rear bumper of the car in front in traffic. Keep some distance so you can make a quick getaway if necessary.

[Chuck Moreland]

Originally posted by MMARSH
Something else to add, Practice getting out of your car with all your gear on.

Good advice. I watched a fire at a POC event last year in which the driver was taking a scary long time to get out of the car. He discovered that he couldn't get out without first removing his helmet! Doors welded shut.

Fortunate for him the fire was not in the cabin and he was okay. The car was badly damaged.