Jim Kelly is spot on with saying : You will be struck stupid on your first car fire, but adrenalin surges don't help us learn
I posted this previously.....Response to an engine fire:
~ You first notice the engine performance dropping off ( 4 - 5 seconds) then look at gauges ( 2 - 3 seconds)
~ Slow down and pull off onto the road shoulder 5- 7 seconds)
~ Realizing smoke and flames are rolling out from engine grill & the time to process this ( 7 seconds)
~ Shut off engine, fumble to get the fire extinguisher off the mounting bracket try to get the deck lid open only to find the heat has already gotten to the fiberglass area that the latch is mounted to and it won't open (10 seconds)
~ Fumble with the pull pin trying in vane to discharge the extinguisher into the engine grill to no avail ( 15 seconds)
You're now at a minimum of 47 plus seconds past the point you realized the engine fire (eternity) and wonder why you are holding the now empty fire extinguisher as the fire engulfs the car section of the car while you get that sickening feeling .
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It happened to me once ( bad push rod - engine popped through carb) and I was lucky had it not been for the Maryland Highway truck passing by at the right moment and two guys running to the car with large fire extinguishers ( fire out in 5 seconds) the speedster would have been history.