Almost burned down my van

Nomad74

Nomad74

Boy Sprout
Joined
Feb 4, 2016
Messages
23,898
Location
Redding
On a job this morning. My oldest came with me to help. I’m busy cleaning in the house and my son runs in and says “Daddy, the van is smoking!”

I immediately drop my wand and run out. Sure enough, smoke was bellowing out the back of the van. I immediately shut down the 870 and then took a deep breath and jumped in the back to see what was going on.

I discovered that somehow a superzorb bonnet fell into the back of the tm and came to rest on the exhaust manifold. I pulled it out and the edge was on fire. I was probably seconds away from losing everything. Glad my son was with me today.
1350ABD3-8F7A-4184-AB30-97A24DE559C6.jpeg
 
Last edited:
  • Wow
  • Like
Reactions: Bruce Humphrey, Steve Lawrence, Justin Legend Brands and 7 others
Lee Stockwell

Lee Stockwell

FOJL
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
18,840
Location
Benton KY USA
Name
Lee Stockwell
I had a similar cotton pad burn to a crisp on an exposed HX almost 20 years ago. Fortunately there was nothing else flammable nearby, because the fire was out before we noticed it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nomad74
Jim Pemberton

Jim Pemberton

MB Exclusive.
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
12,366
Name
Jim Pemberton
Nomad74 said:
On a job this morning. My oldest came with me to help. I’m busy cleaning in the house and my so. Rins in and says “Daddy, the van is smoking!”

I immediately drop my wand and run out. Sure enough, smoke was bellowing out the back of the van. I immediately shut down the 870 and then took a deep breath and jumped in the back to see what was going on.

I discovered that somehow a superzorb bonnet fell into the back of the tm and came to rest on the exhaust manifold. I pulled it out and the edge was on fire. I was probably seconds away from losing everything. Glad my son was with me today.
View attachment 100790
Click to expand...

I’m glad you and your son are ok. The machine and truck too...but they are secondary.

Van and truck mount fires were more common in the past when more truck mounts used secondary fuels and dry solvent cleaners and deodorizers were more often carried in vans.

Fire extinguishers are a good to keep in the truck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Leeroy, Pioneer Floorcare, Nomad74 and 3 others
Mark Saiger

Mark Saiger

Mr Happy!
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Messages
11,197
Location
Grand Rapids, MN
Name
Mark Saiger
Nomad74 said:
On a job this morning. My oldest came with me to help. I’m busy cleaning in the house and my so. Rins in and says “Daddy, the van is smoking!”

I immediately drop my wand and run out. Sure enough, smoke was bellowing out the back of the van. I immediately shut down the 870 and then took a deep breath and jumped in the back to see what was going on.

I discovered that somehow a superzorb bonnet fell into the back of the tm and came to rest on the exhaust manifold. I pulled it out and the edge was on fire. I was probably seconds away from losing everything. Glad my son was with me today.
View attachment 100790
Click to expand...

Guys sucked up a rag while cleaning out the tank...

We got lucky! 20200706_162059.jpg20200706_164607.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nomad74
Fat Mike

Fat Mike

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2017
Messages
2,832
Location
AZ
Name
Mike G
The first thing I thought Of when I read the title was “again!”

You still have that other Tm?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cleanworks
Old Coastie

Old Coastie

Supportive Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
7,504
Location
Heart of Dixie
Name
Stephen
Wow, Damon. And by the way, I suggest you invert your dry chemical extinguisher and shake it until you can feel the powder slosh inside, like a liquid. Whack it with a rubber mallet if necessary.

i used to do this to every dry chem extinguisher on my ships, every month. You have to prevent the chemical from compacting, or it will not blow out the nozzle. Worse, a little might blow out and the extinguisher fizzles out. Do it today.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jim Pemberton, Fat Mike and Nomad74
Fat Mike

Fat Mike

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2017
Messages
2,832
Location
AZ
Name
Mike G
Old Coastie said:
Wow, Damon. And by the way, I suggest you invert your dry chemical extinguisher and shake it until you can feel the powder slosh inside, like a liquid. Whack it with a rubber mallet if necessary.

i used to do this to every dry chem extinguisher on my ships, every month. You have to prevent the chemical from compacting, or it will not blow out the nozzle. Worse, a little might blow out and the extinguisher fizzles out. Do it today.
Click to expand...

That’s good to know. Scary to think mine at the shop would fizzle
 
  • Like
Reactions: Old Coastie
Fat Mike

Fat Mike

Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2017
Messages
2,832
Location
AZ
Name
Mike G
Justin Stockwell said:
View attachment 100805Expensive mistake. My 870 almost went up in smoke.
Click to expand...

I had a battery blow up on my once. I knew to not hit the posts and I wasn’t. All I did was twist the terminal on a friends car and they probably been beating on the thing and guess the post was loose and exploded on me. Thank God I was injured but it was loud like a shotgun blast
 
  • Like
Reactions: JS41035
Steve Lawrence

Steve Lawrence

Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2006
Messages
3,740
Location
Ann Arbor
Name
Steve Lawrence
Nomad74 said:
On a job this morning. My oldest came with me to help. I’m busy cleaning in the house and my son runs in and says “Daddy, the van is smoking!”

I immediately drop my wand and run out. Sure enough, smoke was bellowing out the back of the van. I immediately shut down the 870 and then took a deep breath and jumped in the back to see what was going on.

I discovered that somehow a superzorb bonnet fell into the back of the tm and came to rest on the exhaust manifold. I pulled it out and the edge was on fire. I was probably seconds away from losing everything. Glad my son was with me today.
View attachment 100790
Click to expand...
Glad your son was with you, too. I almost burnt a van up a long time ago when I had a propane heater for portable equipment. Left it on when it was not in use. Yikes!
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Nomad74
Steve Lawrence

Steve Lawrence

Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2006
Messages
3,740
Location
Ann Arbor
Name
Steve Lawrence
Hey Damon, is there a way to prevent that from happening again? (Perhaps a cage or something so your exhaust manifold can't burn something up as easily.)
 
Nomad74

Nomad74

Boy Sprout
Joined
Feb 4, 2016
Messages
23,898
Location
Redding
Steve Lawrence said:
Hey Damon, is there a way to prevent that from happening again? (Perhaps a cage or something so your exhaust manifold can't burn something up as easily.)
Click to expand...
IT was a 1 in a million thing. I think I may have thrown a pad on top of my machine and while driving around it slid down. I just need to never put anything up there again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Picture of the Day!

IMG_6913.png

Latest posts

Latest Auctions

Picture of the Day!

IMG_6913.png
Back
Top Bottom