Prevent a Car Fire

If you’ve ever driven past a vehicle on fire, you may worry that it could happen to you. Vehicle fires are not common, but they do destroy your property and can be life-threatening. Fortunately, you can prevent a car fire by maintaining your vehicle parts and wiring, staying safe while driving, using safe car habits, and observing warning signs.

Steps

Maintaining Your Vehicle Parts and Wiring

1. Get a yearly car inspection. Take your car to a maintenance shop each year to get it inspected. A mechanic can give you a better idea about your vehicle’s safety and any repairs that you need to get done. While it may seem like an added expense, it costs less to keep your car maintained than it does to replace a car that has broken down or, worse, caught fire.
2. Maintain your electrical systems. Two-thirds of vehicle fires are caused by electrical system failures or malfunctions, so keeping your car’s electrical system maintained is essential for reducing your fire risk. Make sure that your battery is in good condition and is properly hooked up, and check that none of your wiring is frayed or damaged.
   • Get your vehicle’s electrical system checked during your regularly scheduled maintenance, such as oil changes or when you get your yearly car inspection.
   • Immediately repair any issues that are found.
   • If you cannot pay for repairs, find an alternative means of transportation until you can.
3. Check the fuel lines and tank. Look for cracked fuel lines, bad fuel injectors, and fuel leaks. Bad fuel lines can lead to a flare-up, which can cause a vehicle fire. If your tank is compromised, then it can leak fuel, increasing your risk of fire.
   • Fifteen percent of deaths related to car fires happen due to faulty fuel lines or tanks.
4. Install added parts and accessories correctly. Aftermarket parts like extra lights or stereo speakers can be a fun addition to your vehicle, but they can also cause a hazard if they aren’t correctly installed. Get these items installed professionally unless you know what you are doing because improper wiring or overloading your battery can make your vehicle unsafe.
   • Consult a professional.
   • Always follow the exact instructions on a product or don’t install it in your car.
   • Make sure that all wiring is securely attached.

Using Safe Car Habits

1. Avoid storing flammable materials in your vehicle. While you may occasionally need to transport items such as gas cans, lighter fluids, or propane gas, don’t leave these items in your car on a regular basis because doing so can lead to a fire. Only make short trips while carrying flammables, and immediately remove them from the vehicle once you’ve arrived at your destination.
   • When you do transport flammable materials, take safety precautions. For example, gasoline should only be transported in small amounts that are secured in a proper container. You should also ventilate the vehicle.
   • Don’t place gas or propane in your passenger areas.
2. Avoid smoking in your car. Smoking cigarettes can lead to a fire if you accidentally leave a burning cigarette in your vehicle or if hot ash falls onto flammable material, such as paper. Your risk further increases if you carry a lighter to light the cigarettes.
3. Keep your car clutter-free. Throw out trash and avoid storing items in your car. Allowing these items to remain in your vehicle can create a fire hazard. Not only do extra items, especially crumpled paper, act as fuel if there’s a spark, they also make it easier for you to accidentally leave a flammable item in your car.
   • For example, a flammable liquid could roll under a pile of trash, potentially resulting in a fire.
4. Carry a fire extinguisher and fire blanket. A fire extinguisher and fire blanket can help you put out a fire. Purchase a fire extinguisher that is made for an automobile because the causes of a car fire are often related to electrical issues or combustible fuel, which require a different type of extinguisher.
   • You can find fire extinguishers for automobiles at your local auto parts store, home improvement store, or online.
5. Practice defensive driving. Vehicle fires can happen as part of a car accident, so avoid reckless or aggressive driving. While it can be frustrating to give up the right-of-way or to drive slowly, making choices that keep you safe can help you reduce your risk of fire.
   • Sixty percent of deaths that occur due to car fires happen during a fire that was caused by a car accident.
6. Watch for downed power lines. Be careful when driving around after a storm has occurred because you can encounter dangers like downed power lines. If the downed power line still contains an electrical charge, it could ignite materials in or on your vehicle.
7. Avoid driving if you’ve spilled oil. During an oil change, you may accidentally spill oil on part of your vehicle. If this happens to you, wash away the oil before you try driving again. Having any amount of oil on your engine can lead to a vehicle fire.
8. Choose a safe area to park. The mechanical parts of your car can be hot, and parts of the system can ignite dry materials that they come in contact with. Make sure that you don’t park around high grass or in an area where materials such as trash can come in contact with your undercarriage or catalytic converter. Instead, choose a flat area that is empty of debris, such as a driveway or the street.

Observing Warning Signs

1. Watch for rapid changes in fuel or fluid levels. If your car is leaking fluids, then you should see sudden, unexpected drops in your fuel or oil. Notice if you start needing to refuel more often or if the oil you just added to your vehicle is no longer showing on the dip stick. These can be signs that you have a leak that needs to be fixed immediately.
2. Look for signs of an overheating engine. An overheating engine can quickly lead to trouble. Even if it doesn’t result in fire, it will likely result in a stalled vehicle. While an overheated engine can cause you a lot of headaches, it’s not hard to spot the symptoms.
   • Signs will include the temperature gauge warning light coming on, a smell of burning metal or rubber, a thumping or ticking sound, steam coming from under your hood, or a hood that is hot to the touch. You may also see that your coolant is low or leaking, and your car may not perform as well as it usually does.
   • If you notice any of these signs, stop driving your car and get it checked immediately.
3. Notice blown fuses. If your car has more than one blown fuse in a short period of time, then you need to get the engine checked. Blown fuses are a warning sign that something is wrong and that your car is at risk.
4. Watch for cracked or loose wiring. Cracked or loose wiring is a huge fire risk, so you need to get it repaired immediately. Don’t continue to drive a vehicle with damaged wiring.
   • Check around your engine by looking over the wiring. Don’t touch or remove anything.
   • If you notice any wires sticking out from anywhere, get them checked out.
5. Listen for loud sounds in your exhaust. If you feel any clunking or cracking sounds in your exhaust system, then you may have a blockage or damage in your exhaust. Avoid having a buildup of gas or allowing a leak to continue by getting your exhaust system checked.
6. Replace a missing oil or fuel cap. A missing oil or fuel cap can be a hazard because oil and fuel are both flammable. Additionally, items can get into the system because of the missing cap, which can put your vehicle at risk.
7. Check for broken or missing hoses. While they aren’t that common, broken and missing hoses can compromise your vehicle or allow flammables to leak from your vehicle. Replace any hoses that you discover are damaged or missing.
   • Look for leaks.
   • If you notice that fluids in your car are dropping unexpectedly or that your air conditioning has stopped working, get your hoses checked.
   • Glance under your hood to see if everything looks like it’s in good condition and properly connected.

Tips

• If you have an old car, learn how to maintain itself or work with someone you trust to do regular maintenance checks. Older cars are at greater risk of being damaged or losing parts.

Warnings

• Car fires can be deadly, so don’t drive if you know that your car is at risk.

References

See also

• Ready Your Vehicle for a Hurricane
• Escape if Your Car Is Stalled on the Tracks of an Approaching Train
• Survive a Multi Car Pileup
• Bail out a Flooded Car
• Thwart a Carjacker
• Make a Car Emergency Kit
• Deploy Traffic Cones and Other Visual Warning Devices
• Drive a Short Distance on a Flat Tire
• Outfit Your Car for Emergencies
• Move a Stranded Car

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