There is a moral to this story. We were 2 minutes from home and noticed the cab filing up with smoke. We immediately stopped, opened up the boot to discover every van owner's worst nightmare. ENGINE FIRE! Luckily we had an extinguisher to hand, were able to tackle it immediately and put it out. The damage looks minimal but wires and hoses will need replacing. The left (suspected guilty part) carb is looking distinctly singed and warped too. THe moral is, KEEP A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN IMMEDIATE EASY REACH! It certainly saved our van! It would have been an irony loosing Arthur considering Jen's work with the Firetek group buy!
Cheers guys. The engine is looking OK. It's just the left carb and the rubber and plastic bits which look singed. It could be a blessing in disguise as the engine has been misbehaving for months now. We'll also get the fuel pump moved to the underneath and get a proper job done on the dodgy leisure battery wiring. Actually, all the wiring could do with an overhaul! We also burnt through the wiring connecting the hazard lights!
I opened up the boot and immediately thought back to the "Check your fuel lines" post in TLB v2. The fire extinguisher turns out to be the best £20 spent on our van! The next best thing being the £1 oven gloves from Poundland!
It could have been so much worse - we have no damage to the paint and the majority of the engine is fine. Scary stuff though!
Very lucky escape guys!! Everyones worst nightmare! Glad you got it sorted without too much damage and without you geting hurt at all! Wise words about the fire extinguishers. After packing the van I always check mine are both (yes I have 2!! :-[) easy to get to just incase1 and have a pre formed plan to get Shell n Kids out if the worst happens to us!! I saw the Wilmas firetek set up at the weekend and I have to say I was impressed and will probably be looking at getting in on the next group buy!
Lucky indeed! Makes me think I need to mount my extinguisher somewhere really handy. Scarily enough I know it's on the van but couldn't say exactly which cupboard it's in. Job for tomorrow I reckon
Sorry to hear this happened, but glad that you had the knowledge to put it out...Glad you both are safe. Good luck guys, with the repairs.. We have the Firetech set up in the engine bay, plus an extuigher in the cab area and one by the bench seat.... Also got a fire blanket... I have prepped the children and Mrs B on what to do... Namely get out the van and stay clear. You can never be too careful..
you were being looked out for today get your fire tech kits in now thats everyone best 100 pound you can spend on your van its good we will be seeing you at the next tlb meet fit them fire techs
Jeez guys, sorry to hear about this but glad both you and Jen are ok..which is the main thing. Sounds like you caught it just in time & damage is minimal. Hope you get sorted quickly
guys this is awful ... so glad you are safe and that you were able to get the fire out with minimal damage...
A close shave, Glad the bus and yourselves are Ok, or at least as Ok as can be expected, and let me know about the next Firetec group buy!?
Bleddy'ell you two! My heart is racing just thinking about it! Good news that you and Arthur are all ok. This is our absolute nightmare and so we are really over-protected with our Firetec in the engine bay, 2 extinguishers in the cab with an oven glove to open the engine lid, plus a fireblanket if everything else fails! And we too have an emergency evacuation plan. to you both
