15 northbound between barstow and baker to Vegas Jeep Fire

[PaPaG]

We were heading back to Vegas yesterday when we passed a jeep that pulled over with smoke coming out the engine compartment, I pulled off into the middle shoulder and turned around to go back and help as I saw the guy rushing to get gear out of his jeep and it looked like the loom up was getting really bad, pulled up behind him had the wife call 911 and ran up to help....smoke started getting really bad and we got everything out and I had them back off because I knew it was going to get out of control...Poor guy and his wife were heading up to Moab to meet his son and a bunch of friends to go off roading, 70k jeep had every bell and whistle on it from difs, bumpers, lift, new tires, good suspension, everything a jeep guy could ever want...CHP showed up and we all just waited for fire dept..took the engine all it's water and still could not get the fire out and a 2nd engine showed up and dumped another few hundred gallons on it...finally got it out. Idiots on the highway were driving right by it as it was blowing glass and tires out at them...just amazing. Offered to give them a ride to vegas to meet their son but they said they wanted to wait for tow and their son was driving out to pick them up.....THANKFULLY no one was hurt.

 

[zhandfull]

Jeeps can be replaced. The important thing is nobody was hurt.

Thanks for posting though, my mother in-law just bought new to her motorhome that the family will be using. First thing I did was install a new smoke alarm. This reminds me to check for a fire extinguisher too.

Very cool of you to stop and assist.

 

[PaPaG]

Jeeps can be replaced. The important thing is nobody was hurt.

Thanks for posting though, my mother in-law just bought new to her motorhome that the family will be using. First thing I did was install a new smoke alarm. This reminds me to check for a fire extinguisher too.

Always makes me think if room permits carry 2 full size Extinguishers but you never know.

 

[RichL]

Tough situation for the Owners. Nice that you stopped to help. Thumbs up sir.

 

[badluck24/7]

Always makes me think if room permits carry 2 full size Extinguishers but you never know.

I realize any fire extinguisher is better than none but what is recommended for an auto fire? Meaning what type or class?

 

[PaPaG]

I realize any fire extinguisher is better than none but what is recommended for an auto fire? Meaning what type or class?

Not sure it is the best but the ones I used to carry in my truck and do carry in my jeep and when I have boats is the Kidde. You can get them from Costco at times. The largest one is the best, It will fight Class A, B, and C fires and is is UL rated 2-A:10-B:C. It operates at 100 PSI of pressure with a discharge time of 13 to 15 seconds at 10 to 15 feet. 2 of these would surely help but they take up some room...

 

[RichL]

Not sure it is the best but the ones I used to carry in my truck and do carry in my jeep and when I have boats is the Kidde. You can get them from Costco at times. The largest one is the best, It will fight Class A, B, and C fires and is is UL rated 2-A:10-B:C. It operates at 100 PSI of pressure with a discharge time of 13 to 15 seconds at 10 to 15 feet. 2 of these would surely help but they take up some room...

I keep 1 of these in each of the trucks and 2 in the boat as well. Only reason I haven't put one in my wife's 2 door jeep is because the fit is sooo tight, I haven't figured a useful place to mount one where it wouldn't be a head knocker or kicked.

 

[PaPaG]

I decided to pick up 4 more today...just in case.

 

[Kachina26]

Good work stopping to help.

 

[4Waters]

Nice of you to stop but the only thing is it appears from the pictures that you stopped downhill from the jeep, always stop uphill, if the fuel tank started leaking the fuel would have ran downhill toward your car and that could have gotten bad.

 

[lbhsbz]

I realize any fire extinguisher is better than none but what is recommended for an auto fire? Meaning what type or class?

A good insurance policy. I DGAF about my vehicle if it’s on fire.

 

[RichL]

A good insurance policy. I DGAF about my vehicle if it’s on fire.

I get that you might not care about yours but what if someone is trapped in another vehicle and needs additional time to get out? An extinguisher could make a difference.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Not sure it is the best but the ones I used to carry in my truck and do carry in my jeep and when I have boats is the Kidde. You can get them from Costco at times. The largest one is the best, It will fight Class A, B, and C fires and is is UL rated 2-A:10-B:C. It operates at 100 PSI of pressure with a discharge time of 13 to 15 seconds at 10 to 15 feet. 2 of these would surely help but they take up some room...

Just be aware, those will put out the fire but are horrible on the metal and electronics in a vehicle. Standard and Purple K extinguishers leave corrosive residue.

A Halotron extinguisher is the best ideally for automotive or a boat as it won’t leave any corrosive residue.

 

[lbhsbz]

I get that you might not care about yours but what if someone is trapped in another vehicle and needs additional time to get out? An extinguisher could make a difference.

Get ‘em out, let it burn.

I carry a 5lb powder extinguisher in the truck, but it’ll destroy whatever it gets used on.

 

[RichL]

Get ‘em out, let it burn.

I carry a 5lb powder extinguisher in the truck, but it’ll destroy whatever it gets used on.

My point was that it might slow things down just enough to get someone out.

 

[WhatExit?]

That'll buff out

Glad you stopped to help and didn't have to pay for being a nice guy (nothing happened to you and your wife while doing a good deed)

 

[PaPaG]

Nice of you to stop but the only thing is it appears from the pictures that you stopped downhill from the jeep, always stop uphill, if the fuel tank started leaking the fuel would have ran downhill toward your car and that could have gotten bad.

I was the Explorer parked way uphill from the jeep about 30-40 yards just in case it blew and also to warn and curb traffic. Thankfully I am trained to handle emergency situations. The picture looks like I am down hill but I was uphill from the burning jeep.

 

[4Waters]

I was the Explorer parked way uphill from the jeep about 30-40 yards just in case it blew and also to warn and curb traffic. Thankfully I am trained to handle emergency situations. The picture looks like I am down hill but I was uphill from the burning jeep.

That's why I said appears as pictures can be deceiving.

 

[DLC]

Any idea what started or actually caught fire? Tranny fluid / power steering. Or electrical....

I have a 2012 JKU and with the 513 gears, auto trans on 37’s it drives 70mph at about 3,000 rpm. I’m always on the lookout when I’m driving it due to the low gearing and high rpm