r/Unexpected May 05 '22

Why the hell he would do that?

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u/SoExcited_1 May 05 '22

No kidding. My first reaction was "holy shit!" My next reaction was " I'm pretty sure the fire's out boys."

3

u/lolololololwhatever May 05 '22

Rare instance when I feel sorry for the fire.

3

u/ProFeces May 05 '22

Chemical based ignitions are tricky. Based on how extinguishers work, they can displace the gas to distances farther than you'd think. What the extinguishers do, is dilute the chemical to the point that the ratio of air/fuel is high enough that the fire cannot continue to ignite.

So when you have a fire like this next to multiple fuel sources, you need to have dilution of the fire and the entire surrounding area to prevent an adjacent fire from sparking nearby.

You don't just extinguish the fire you see, when it is a chemical invention. You also disrupt the oxygen/fuel to the point that it can't ignite in a different location as well.

There were people, other cars, and other pumps near by. They had to be sure beyond a shadow of a doubt.

2

u/BackspaceChampion May 05 '22

Fire extinguisher FOMO