Question:Hello, my question was referred to you by the State Fire Marshal’s office. I have a customer that has a fire extinguisher question. It is a School that just purchased a 10 passenger van and they are wondering what size fire extinguisher is required.

Answer:This is what we would refer to as a “type III vehicle.” A “type III” is restricted to passenger vehicles and buses having a maximum manufacturer’s rated seating capacity of ten or fewer people, including the driver, and a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.

The requirement for type III vehicles would be a minimum of one 10BC rated dry chemical fire extinguisher. The extinguisher must be mounted in a bracket, located in the driver’s compartment and be readily accessible to the driver and passengers. A pressure indicator is required and must be easily read without removing the extinguisher from its mounted position.

A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205. (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).