On June 1, 1975, Steven Spielberg unleashed the legendary thriller Jaws on the world, featuring the iconic John Williams score that remains widely recognized more than 50 years later. As memorable as many scenes are within the movie, there are a few heroic moments that deserve a second look.
One overlooked scene is when Quint, the brave shark hunter (starting at 1:06 in the clip below), races to grab a fire extinguisher to put out the engine’s flames while leading the Great White to shallower waters. While the effectiveness of the extinguisher is rightfully due some praise, so is its ease of access. The bracket holding it in place is made to release rapidly in any situation, and this small detail in the scene is a true reflection of the Fire and Life Safety industry’s best practices. This may go unnoticed by the general public, but not by the Fire Protection engineers who look at them each day. Regardless of this, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 10, the definition is clear:
- 3.3.11 Extinguisher Bracket: Extinguisher retention device designed to mount and secure a specific extinguisher model onto various surfaces by incorporating releasable straps or bands to secure the fire extinguisher.
In essence, the bracket is not simply a holder. Especially in marine environments, the risk of dislodgement is incredibly high. Even more so when considering the circumstances of this specific scene and movie in general. That’s why marine extinguishers, such as the one featured in Jaws, are listed with a strap-type bracket, also called a USCG (United States Coast Guard) approved bracket. These meet rigorous standards for retention and release, ensuring that when seconds count, there’s no fumbling or delay.
- 6.1.3.6 NFPA 10 Requirement: Fire extinguishers installed in vehicles or under other conditions where they are subject to dislodgement shall be installed in approved strap-type brackets specifically designed for this application.
As implied from the requirement above, these strap-type brackets are found in many other places, aside from marine environments. They can often be located in many applications, including school buses, public buses, RVs, trash trucks, utility vehicles, police cars, etc. All in all, decades later, Jaws still holds up, even with the younger generation that’s used to fancy special effects. And amid a shark-fueled mental breakdown, a fire extinguisher properly placed is just as safe and effective to use in an emergency as it was then. The referenced clip is available to watch below, and more information on strap-type brackets is available here.
Image via Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
