Rapid response on Irish motorway stops car fire, minutes before police or fire and rescue arrive!
“Well done. A great product. I bought 5 of them last week to be installed on an aircraft and used two today after seeing a car on fire on the M7 motorway in Ireland (I had them with me as I was driving to the airfield).
“Amazing product and keep up the great work. You prevented a huge fire on a motorway today. I used two sticks to stop the fire. When the police arrived they sprayed the engine with powder, the fire was out but they just wanted to do their bit.”
“I’ve bought another 6 of these 100S sticks to have at home, in the aircraft and in the workshop. I’m recommending them to other aircraft owners also.”
When aviation enthusiast and microlight pilot Myles Sheehy set out on a Sunday morning journey to Limetree Airfield in Portlaoise, he never expected to become a roadside hero. Driving along the M7 motorway in Ireland, Myles noticed a Volkswagen Passat parked on the hard shoulder with smoke pouring from under the bonnet. Trusting his instincts, he quickly pulled over to help.
Thanks to his recent purchase from approved distributor Murray Motorsport, Myles had several Fire Safety Stick FSS100s in his vehicle—compact yet powerful fire extinguishing tools that would soon prove their worth.
Upon approaching the car, Myles discovered flames already visible around the engine bay. The car’s owner informed him that emergency services had been called nearly ten minutes earlier but had not yet arrived. Without hesitation, Myles activated two of the FSS100 sticks and placed them directly into the engine bay. He held the third stick ready but soon realised it wouldn’t be necessary—the fire had been fully extinguished by the first two.
By the time the Gardaí arrived approximately five minutes later, the fire had long been extinguished. Despite this, they deployed a dry powder extinguisher as a precaution—ironically introducing a risk of additional damage to the engine bay and wiring. Fortunately, thanks to Myles’ prompt action with the Fire Safety Stick, the fire had already been stopped, preventing what could have been a far worse outcome with the whole car a blaze. This would have almost certainly required the motorway to be closed and further risks to those nearby.
The car owner was extremely grateful for Myles’ bravery and quick thinking, as were the attending authorities.
Image taken of the engine bay after the fire
Discovering Fire Safety Stick
Myles first came across the Fire Safety Stick just days earlier while browsing the Murray Motorsport website. Intrigued by its compact design and promising capabilities, he carried out extensive research before deciding to purchase a batch of five.
“I bought them from Murray Motorsport. I initially bought five, which is why I had them in the car on Sunday morning. Since then, I’ve bought another six,” said Myles.
Safety in the Skies and on the Ground
Myles Sheehy, Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of the National Microlight Association of Ireland (NMAI), has recently added two Fire Safety Sticks to his aircraft and is actively recommending them to fellow pilots. Based at Limetree Airfield, Myles is a well-known and trusted figure within the Irish microlight community. While he occasionally supplies Rotax service parts to pilots around the country, he works closely with inspectors to help ensure aircraft are safe and meet the requirements of their permit to fly.
“Fire extinguishers aren’t mandatory in the aircraft we fly,” he explains, “but there’s no harm in having something like this on board. It’s great how light and compact they are.”
Myles is currently preparing a safety presentation for the upcoming NMAI AGM, with the date to be announced shortly. Key topics will include the use of Fire Safety Sticks and improving traffic awareness—both part of a broader initiative to enhance operational safety across the microlight aviation sector.
Spreading the Word
Myles’ story demonstrates how quickly a situation can escalate and how vital the right equipment can be in preventing disaster.
We at Fire Safety Stick commend Myles for his heroic actions and are proud that our product played a crucial role in safeguarding both people and property on that day.
To view Myles flying the microlight aircraft, in which he will be installing the Fire Safety Stick, visit his YouTube channel: SkyRangerSwift2Ireland
Images of Myles’s Skyranger Swift 2 aircraft and the 2x FSS100s installed within the cockpit