Question:
Fire Extinguisher - Halon or Dry Chemical I was looking to purchase a good extinguisher to carry in the car. I know halon is probably a lot less messy but what other advantages does one have over the other. What is a good size. Is the dry chemical very crossive or just messy.

Answer: A: Halon is especially good for extinguishing a fire in an enclosed space (e.g. engine compartment or car interior). Simply leave the hood or doors closed and spray in the halon through the radiator or partially open window or door. Halon is more dangerous in that while not toxic, it will not support life. So if someone is unconcious or trapped inside a car, you have to be very careful about using halon inside the passenger compartment.

Q: What is a good size. A: The largest size that is convenient to carry inside the passenger compartment. An extinguisher stored in the trunk is likely to inaccessible in case of a serious collision.