Post by jbsaws on Jan 22, 2012 17:10:18 GMT -5
Tommy said, "Easy access, more than one". Amen brother! I'd add to that "make sure they work".
I learned that lesson back in high school when a friend and I almost burned down the local Shell gas station.
Here's the story:
We were working in one of the bays on an old car I had. At the workbench doing some welding. Sparks hit a pile of rags on the floor and they caught fire. Grabbed the rags to throw them out of the way, they were wrapped around a can. In the can? Gasoline for parts cleaning. Gas spilled across the floor, along the wall and out into the bay. Big flames! Where was the fire extinguisher? Behind the workbench that was now on fire. Big excitement as people ran all over the station yelling and looking for another extinguisher. Found one. Pulled the pin. Nothing! Didn't work. By now the flames had gone up one entire wall and into the store room full of paper products, shop rags, etc.. More big flames. Finally found a fire extinguisher that worked and got a couple of hoses going and put the flames out. By the time the fire dept. arrived it was all over but the cursing.
So, as Tommy said, have more than one, make sure they are away from the hazard area so you can get to them when a fire starts, and, make sure you service them at least once a year.
Did we get in trouble? Well no. The friend who was doing the welding was the owner of the station! ;D
I learned that lesson back in high school when a friend and I almost burned down the local Shell gas station.
Here's the story:
We were working in one of the bays on an old car I had. At the workbench doing some welding. Sparks hit a pile of rags on the floor and they caught fire. Grabbed the rags to throw them out of the way, they were wrapped around a can. In the can? Gasoline for parts cleaning. Gas spilled across the floor, along the wall and out into the bay. Big flames! Where was the fire extinguisher? Behind the workbench that was now on fire. Big excitement as people ran all over the station yelling and looking for another extinguisher. Found one. Pulled the pin. Nothing! Didn't work. By now the flames had gone up one entire wall and into the store room full of paper products, shop rags, etc.. More big flames. Finally found a fire extinguisher that worked and got a couple of hoses going and put the flames out. By the time the fire dept. arrived it was all over but the cursing.
So, as Tommy said, have more than one, make sure they are away from the hazard area so you can get to them when a fire starts, and, make sure you service them at least once a year.
Did we get in trouble? Well no. The friend who was doing the welding was the owner of the station! ;D
