The Washington times., 1919-12-27

/ break off the motor would skip. The
broken end of the wire, If it came in
contact or even near metal would
. send the spark meant for the particu-
lar cylinder across the air gap. This
( is only dangerous If The motor is
greasy or if the carburetor is leak
ing and the air is charged with gas
vapor.
First Thing To De.
Knowing the major causes OF auto
mobile fires the next thing to know is
who to DO when you have one. The
very first thing to do is to classify
the trouble quickly and correctly
There is no sense pouring bucket of
water on the generator just because
little smoke is coming out of it, or
throwing dirt all over the carburetor
when it pops back" or ripping off
all the ignition wires just because
you smell rubber burning.
When you smell smoke, reason care
fully and act sensibly. When you see
flame, act quickly.
1 have shown what a variety of
causes one may attribute to smoke
Your friends may have been careless
with their smokes" A fire in the
seat cushions, the robes. the Top or
the body should be put out with
water. Carry collapsible bucket If
no water is handy, smother the fire
before 1t gets start For this use
your robes or floor-mat If the fire
gets headway, stop other motorists
until you find one with an extinguish-
er. Send some one else for the en-
gines. il available; it will probably
sc too much for you.
Disconnected Wires.
II there is trouble in the generator,
don't ruin il with sand or water
Disconnect one of the wires at the
rear of it: or, IL for any reason
you can't. cut one of them in two.
You will have to be towed home. of
course. and you'll have a repair bill,
but 1t Will be better than running your
motor generator. But if it bursts
into flame, don't take any chances.
Use your extinguisher il you have
one) and disconnect wires. If you
haven't an extinguisher use dirt or
sand, IL available.
II you smell rubber, examine the
wires methodically. There will be a
short-circuit somewhere and you'll
ind it by feeling the wires The
'utlty one will be hot. IL the rub
5cr insulation has burst into fame
tad you arc unable to disconncct it
nc road on IL until you extinguish
he flames. Unless the burning rub
b"r be near the carburetor or gas line,
here is nothing to get excited about.
There is nothing to get excited about
n any automobile fire. Keep your
read, but think and act quickly.
There won't be an explosion until
the fire gets into the tanks, the
Tacuum or the rear. When gas is
confined under pressure. it explodes.
otherwise it burns quickly
Water Scatters Flames.
When you're sure the flame is due
% gas or oil never use water. for
hat scatters the flames. If driving
the car at the time, stop, shut off the
,nSine, pull on the emergency brake,
lnhook fire extinSuisher, life up hood
md fight flames. OF course, if you
raven't an extinguisher, it's going
o be harder fight. We're not sell
.uS eXtinguishcrs, but we can't help
aammering homo the truth that they
are like life preservcrs: maybe YOU
won't need one. but if you do and
haven't got one there's nobody to
blame but yourself.
An oil fire is slow; sand. dirt.
'mothcring or beating will put il out
you got after it in time. But a
-aS fire is world series. When the
arburetor takes fire, don't lift up
he hood until you have something to
light with. for air helps the fire burn.
mike lubricating oil or grease it
NH apparently seem to burn every
where and, if you can find the scat
If the trouble and smother it, the gas
lanes will automatically cease or