I carry two dry powder extinguishers in my van. Both are fixed in position, one in the cab and one in the rear. Both are within easy reach whether I'm inside or outside of the van. The idea is that if I had a fire, I should be able to reach at least one of them safely without putting myself in undue danger.
Having them in a fixed position is much better than carrying them either loose somewhere in the van, or hidden in a cupboard etc., where you might struggle to get to them quickly and safely if needed. Also be wary of storing them too close to the stove, or other high fire risk area, because you may not be able to reach them safely if there is a fire.
Yes, dry powder can be messy to clean up afterwards, but they are the most versatile type and can be used safely and effectively on almost all classes of fire, including those involving live mains electricity. This versatility is a major advantage when faced with the urgency of discovering and dealing with a fire, because you don't have the added worry of deciding if the extinguisher is safe to use on the type of fire that you're faced with, which may involve live electrics or burning fuel etc.
(I've dealt with some pretty big burning fuel fires without using all of the contents of just one extinguisher, so I can vouch for their effectiveness!)
If you deal with a fire involving a gas pipe or appliance, remember to turn the gas supply off at the cylinder as soon as possible, otherwise even after extinguishing the fire, you may still have gas leaking into the area, creating further risk.
Most importantly, If you're not happy or confident in dealing with the fire, then just get everyone out to a place of safety. Losing your van and contents may be very upsetting and inconvenient, but it's obviously much better than risking injuries or worse.
While I'm here..... Have you tested your smoke alarms recently?? (you do have smoke alarms?!)
