Whats the standard procedure for avoiding fire?

Duck !!

Have a word with your local Volunteer Fire Brigade, and get them to run you through how to use a dry powder extinguisher.
cheers

Dry powder or CO2 extinguishers generally do not put out a grass or grass seed fire under your vehical. Just ask those who have tried and failed. In any case, you do not have a lot of time when it happens, but the best method is with a water spray (not jet) with a little bit of dishwashing detergent in the water. The detergent helps bind the water spay onto the area you are trying to spray. 5ltr Garden chemical sprayers are good. Suggest you get some practice using it though.

Prevention is always better than cure. Always check under the vehicle for grass or seed build up regularly. Hope this helps.

The detergent idea is a good one I have read in this forum already actually, Ill definitely keep it in mind, as is the idea of getting the fire brigade to actually teach me how to use it... I think I will certainly follow up on those. Ive used a fire extinguisher before but have also been in a bit of a hairy situation with fire (beyond fire-extinguisher control) and know that there is a big difference in the mind-set when its an emergency to when someone is calm and clearly thinking.

Having said that, what I was really interested to know is, exactly what type of terrain prompts the well-weathered travellers to think "ok now I have to start worrying about setting fire to something with the vehicle".. what types of grass (spinifex?) are the concern and is it only these types? and how to people prevent it? (think I read that some people stop every 30 minutes or so and use a wire hook to rip the stuff out).

Is it usual behaviour to do any kind of modifications to prevent grass or seed buildup areas in the engine and what exactly are the worst places? (I assume catalytic converter and exhaust are the worst but not certain)...

I just dont want to be someone who spends alot of time getting his 4wd, organising his camping stuff, getting everything done that needs to be done, and then get out somewhere and do something as stupid and dangerous as start a fire through sheer ignorance, so Im trying to learn where the "hotspots" are, when to worry about them, and any other tips (not parking on a grassy area is a good one but surely there are times when this is a must?)...

Also back to the fire extinguisher, is it actually dry-powder that most people carry, and I understand mounting in the front is advisable... im not sure about how they mount though... I would never put one on my cargo barrier as I have seen what a reasonable-speed accident can do to objects in the vehicle turning into projectiles... and a fire-extinguisher is probably the worst kind I can think of... I am thinking front passenger side?

Just after ANY fire-related tips really...

If you are traveling in tall spinifex, especially when it is in seed, you need to check under the vehicle regularly for any build up especially around the exhaust. Carry long leather (elbow length) boilermakers gloves and a selection of home made wire hooks and washing up detergent 1 litre bottles filled with water carried in the door pocket, or the 5 litre chemical sprayer is ideal, because a fire ext is useless in these situations. You need to be able to hook the grass build up out as necessary and should it catch fire you need to be able to squirt water where it is required which is obviously at the base of the fire. This is only really necessary if you are doing some extreme 4WDing such as the CSR or cross country two wheeled tracks which are loaded with grass due to little use. Many a vehicle has been lost this way which could have easily been avoided had the owner had the above simple tools and performed the necessary regular checks.

G day GiveItAGoGavo

Good info above, dry powder extinguisher plus the water sprayer. Also carry a bit of fencing wire with a hook on one end for dragging bits out, when checking underneath also check around the brakes and any build up in the radiator.

This also goes for a good underneath inspection when in remote areas. Make it a habit to have a look around, feel the heat of the shox and general look around, carry a small tarp, lay it on the ground and drive the vehicle onto it so that you can carry out an inspection.

Big thing in the scrub with a petrol vehicle is not to suddenly park in long grass and stay there, the catalictic converters are quite hot and can start a fire.

By the sounds of the question, you have the nouse to work it out.

Have a great trip.
Cheers

Was in the Tanami on Mt Doreen Station, west something of Yuendemu, must be 1995 I think; mate was a jackaroo on the station and I had flown in to visit him and his family. We went out the next day to carve a track with the D6 bulldozer. About smoko time he hollered from on top of the bully "put the billy on willya".

I was a complete noobie in this part of the world...

So I got a few dried weeds together, a few sticks and some larger branches, put them all together amongst a whole bunch of these round dried-up spiny echidna-like plants. And stuck a match in it...

Bloody place blew up, didn't it. Old mate on the bully was in hysterics - he almost lost control of the machine, watching me dance around with a jacket (it was a bit cool in the mornings) trying to stop the whole desert from going up in flames.

Round spiny echidnas are desert spinifex, and in its drier form can be likened to straw dipped in napalm, and is amazingly inflammable.

Never seen a bloke laugh so hard in me life - and he does not laugh that much, usually. Generally a slight grin and a dry one-liner...

Wanted to punch him on the snozzer for not telling me - his response was "I wanted to see what you would do and what would happen!" Well he got what he wanted.

"The WHOLE $%^& TANAMI could have blown up!!!" I yelled at him...

Spinifex is full of resin that is a bit sticky and if it gets caught in the hot parts of the exhaust it will catch fire.

So I provided old mate with a bit of entertainment for the day.

Low slung 4WD (Pajeros and the like) seem to have a propensity for picking the stuff up - have a care with it.

viz

Gidday all,

I assume as all good outback travellers we all carry 6 or so cans of cold beer/cool drink in our engels. These can also be used as mini fire extinguishers. Give em a good shake and just crack the can, we have all been through that practical joke before!!

I wouldn't use this as a primary fire fighting method however if all else fails or you have nothing else, this can be used.

Happy travels

Mick