-----Original Message-----
>Magnesium  fires are  extremely difficult  to bring under control, and
>really are  best left to the professionals.

        That is true -- except many so-called professionals do not know what
to do
in those situations.  First, imagine yourself as a firefighter rushing to
the scene of a burning vehicle.  What do you first?  Do you get out your
trusty chemical tester and start performing tests for magnesium?  Or, does
the firefighter immediately recognize a "magnesium fire?'"
        There is science, and there is the grim reality of human limitation.
Just
my experience.

HK
I watched a Westie ( 70's air cooled ) burn by the side of the freeway
across from my office a few weeks back.  Six minutes passed from the time it
stopped with smoke coming from the back to a fully engulfed, ie. flames out
the front windows, car fire.
Fire truck arrived 2 minutes later; they hit it with the hose, and chunks of
burning crankcase spread accross 4 lanes of traffic !
They switched to foam...
Chris