After seeing that one of my fire extinguishers' guage was on empty, I recently picked up from Costco a two-pack containing First Alert "Multi-Purpose" Fire Extinguishers. I've put one in my car but upon reflection am not sure it is sufficient for automobile use. The box does not mention automobile use and instead emphasizes home use. Couldn't find a link on the Costco site so here are some of the particulars from the box they came in:

UL Rated 1-A:10-B:C
US Coast Guard-approved

I believe it's the same as this:

First Alert Home Fire Extinguishers are 1-A:10-B:C rated fire extinguisher ideal for use in any household location. Multi-purpose household fire extinguisher fights wood, paper, fabric, flammable liquid and electrical fires. Durable metal head designed to meet demanding household requirements. If the unit is used it can be recharged by a certified professional. Includes mounting bracket to keep unit secure. 10-year limited warranty. Meets UL standards.


Here's a link and summary of an auto-specific extinguisher. Still not clear to me if the Costco extinguishers are sufficient for automobiles:
http://www.firstalert.com/fire-extinguishing/fire-extinguisher/fire-extinguishers/FESA5

This auto fire extinguisher is compact - store in any car or vehicle. 5-B:C rated compact car fire extinguishers are ideal for use in vehicles. Fights flammable liquid and electrical fires. Small enough to fit in the trunk. Includes heavy duty mounting bracket to keep unit secure. 10-year limited warranty. Meets UL standards



I'm presently reviewing the site at this link below to determine exactly what I need in the car and at home. Been a long while since I researched fire extinguishers:

http://www.ilpi.com/safety/extinguishers.html


Class A fires are ordinary materials like burning paper, lumber, cardboard, plastics etc.

Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, and common organic solvents used in the laboratory.

Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment, such as appliances, switches, panel boxes, power tools, hot plates and stirrers. Water can be a dangerous extinguishing medium for class C fires because of the risk of electrical shock unless a specialized water mist extinguisher is used.

Class D fires involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium as well as pyrophoric organometallic reagents such as alkyllithiums, Grignards and diethylzinc. These materials burn at high temperatures and will react violently with water, air, and/or other chemicals. Handle with care!!

Class K fires are kitchen fires. This class was added to the NFPA portable extinguishers Standard 10 in 1998. Kitchen extinguishers installed before June 30, 1998 are "grandfathered" into the standard.

Some fires may be a combination of these! Your fire extinguishers should have ABC ratings on them. These ratings are determined under ANSI/UL Standard 711 and look something like "3-A:40-B:C". Higher numbers mean more firefighting power. In this example, the extinguisher has a good firefighting capacity for Class A, B and C fires. NFPA has a brief description of UL 711 if you want to know more.


Are your all's fire extinguishers appropriate to your needs and sufficiently charged?

Do you have any home or car extinguishers to recommend?