Gutted.

[baj25]

My lovely early bay caught fire yesterday and ended up burned out. Engine stuttered so I pulled over, a few tiny flames to left of carb, but I had nothing with me to put on it. Highways agency were there in 30s while I was ringing 999, but they don’t carry extinguishers, not a single vehicle passing answered my gesticulated pleas for help. There were no houses or anything close by. I had to just stand there and watch her go, all those happy memories and 100’s of hours of work. Sharing my sadness helps me, but if one person reading this starts carrying an extinguisher, then at least some small good might come of it. Please, get an extinguisher and carry it, you don’t want to end up feeling like I do right now. Brian

 

[frod]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. I've had a couple of near misses with the flexible hose that runs from the pump to the carb. One day I was being waved to and flashed more often than usual...but I took it in my stride and just kept going. It wasn't until I pulled up at my house(4miles later) that I could smell the fumes. I went around the back of the van and not only was petrol bubbling as it came out from under my engine lid but it was dripping off the rear valence onto the exhaust with a hissing sound! The petrol had dissolved the tar like substance on the back of my engine lid and something in that mixture must have raised the ignition temp of the petrol? What ever it was, I was very nearly in your position. I've got a small extinguisher but I don't think that would have helped in my case .....had it gone up. When it comes to extinguishers the bigger the better....

 

[Mark6455]

Oh no mate that is so sad I'm gutted for you
At least you got out ok but still hard when your pride and joy goes up in smoke
Fingers crossed she will rise from the ashes again

Good luck dude

Mark

 

[easy]

**** sorry to hear that fella! i carry 2 extinguishers for any situation.

Keep your chin up dood, it must be heart ruining but at least you can get a new bus now, and start all the joys again and create new memories :mrgreen:

 

[mattd1984]

Feel for you mate such shocking news. Where are you based out of interest.

 

[Trikky2]

Oh No! Not another one.....

Very sorry to hear of your fire.

I also carry two extinguishers, (though theres still no guarantee they will cope).

For those reading this post - please note :-

I have recently come across a couple of vehicles where the fuel hoses were in good condition but the wrong diameter. Hose clips had been used to tighten the slightly over sized pipes down but the material used to make the pipes compresses over time and the hose starts leaking, despite them being tight when originally fitted.

Fuel hoses should be a tight fit and not leak, even without a hose clip. The hose clip is then added as extra security.

Also, check the brass hose fitting is secure in the carburettor. Many are now quite old and can come loose from mis handling or from corrosion.

 

[baj25]

Thanks for kind words. We’re in Lancashire Matt, it happened on a junction/bridge over the M6, which was closed for a while. About a mile from home. A lot of people saw me cry yesterday…

 

[rallye dale]

Gutted for you , I'm not far away from you and was working in lathom yestetday

At least your ok , hope your insurance sorts you out properly

 

[dodgy]

I was just thinking how i would feel it it was my bus
Hope the insurance pays out and your back on the road soon.
At least you werent hurt
good luck

 

[Lee C]

Ah ****!!!!!
That's terrible news!!!!!!
Imagine the highway agency vans not carrying fire extinguishers either :shock:

I'll defo be fitting a NEW fire extinguisher when my bus gets on the road like!!!!

 

[Danbury Doug]

Sorry to hear that.
It would have been your bus someone put a photo up on FaceBook of (not the EarlyBay group), showing it well alight. There were a few comments, concerned for your safety.

Glad you are ok indeed, and I hope you can soon put your nasty experience behind you, and find another lovely bus to continue to enjoy.

Doug

 

[simo]

Jeez - feel your pain :?

At least no one was hurt as said - keep your chin up m8, salvage what you can and start again, put it down to experience ( be it a bad one) and make the next one better

 

[KevH]

At times like this we all gulp and think how it could easily be us in your position. I have got three relatively small extinguishers on board, but am now seriously considering a Firetec system.

Bad as it is, at least you got out safely and can (hopefully) use the insurance payout to replace your bus.

It won't be quite the same though, I suspect.

 

[Clem]

I guess this was you

http://www.speedmonkey.co.uk/2013/06/this-old-vw-camper-is-on-fire-on-bridge.html?m=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Gutted for you

 

[Nugsy]

Having been in a similar situation, I can go some way to knowing how you feel. My bus had only done 30 odd miles bringing it home and on lay up but i spent two years getting all the work done so hadnt actually created any real family memories (apart from not being at home most weekends)

I got a new bus after a while and it did take a while for it to really feel like mine, but two years later we now do have a lot of family memories in our new one

It takes time as do most things. Sorry for your loss, there is a light at the end of the tunnel...honest

 

[Ryanmck1984]

Oh man I feel unbelievably sorry for you! :sad0049:

This is my biggest fear. I carry one behind the seat and another fixed to the steering column also I drive with my engine lid unlocked incase I need in there in a hurry.

Like the other guys say, chin up and on to a new and better bus!
Just glad you were ok.

 

[shiplee123]

Oh chap so sorry
I carry two all the time since my carb was dripping petrol a few months ago onto the hot engine
Hope insurance pays out quick and u can look for something new although it never recompenses you for all the time n effort and love u have for your old motor

 

[RICH-I-AM]

Sorry to hear this and hope you get payed out so you can buy another.
Saw the pic of your van on VZI last night.
Im thinking of hiding mine away for a while.
They seem to be either getting nicked or going up in smoke at the mo.

Rich

 

[68_early_bay]

 

[ozziedog]

Oh mate,,,,,,, I`m just so sorry to hear of this, echoing what they ^^^ have said above. I`m not sure what my feelings would be if I were in this situation. I`ve got the firetec in the garage not fitted and I carry a couple of loose ones with me. Not sure how long you`d get though. SparkyWig was telling me that he was waving at a T25 that was billowing smoke at the Bristol meeting last week, the chap thought everyone was being extra friendly so carried on driving, came running back moments later shouting for a fire extinguisher to put it out, I think I`m not wrong in saying five extinguishers it took to put it out but two of them were full sized ones from the farm. On reflection it seemed that oil had got into his heat exchangers and then caught fire making it difficult to put it out. Glad to hear that your lot are ok and still philosophical about the whole event,

Ozziedog.