In the United States, approximately 400 civilians die each year due to vehicle fires.

Vehicle fires can emit toxic smoke, scatter parts, and generate heat exceeding 1,500°C. Vehicles carry flammable fuels (such as gasoline) and can be considered mobile hazardous materials facilities.

Causes of Fire

Fuel System Malfunctions

Fuel leaks are the most common cause of vehicle fires. Gasoline has a flash point of -43°C, and when it evaporates, it forms a flammable gas mixture. When this gas leaks and evaporates under the hood, the fuel/oxygen mix becomes ideal for ignition, which can occur with a small spark. Gasoline fires usually stem from old, deteriorated fuel lines, defective fuel line connectors, and leaky fuel injection systems.

Electrical System Failures

Electrical system failures are the second most common cause of vehicle fires. A car’s 12-volt battery generates hydrogen gas during charging, posing an explosion risk. Battery and starter cables carry enough current to ignite flammable materials if they fail. Even broken headlight filaments, which heat up to about 1400°C, can be ignition sources.

Engine Overheating

Overheated engines often occur in high-mileage vehicles. Worn water pumps or cooling fans can cause high engine temperatures. Combining an overheated engine with various flammable liquids like motor oil, automatic transmission fluid, hydraulic brake fluid, and engine coolant (ethylene glycol) can result in a fire.

Equipment

Firefighters must wear full PPE, including fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus, for all vehicle fires. Vehicles are made from various materials, including steel, aluminum, and synthetic resins. These materials can release cyanide, carcinogens, sulfuric acid, carbon nickel, copper, lithium, plastics, and synthetics.

Vehicle fires can cause unexpected events, such as tire explosions, ruptured fuel tanks, and the contents of the trunk becoming unstable. Therefore, PPE is always essential for firefighters’ safety.

Vehicle Fires Activities

Positioning the Vehicle

Park the fire truck upwind and uphill from the fire. To avoid risks from smoke and explosions, park at least 20 meters away from the burning vehicle.

Vehicle Fires Size-Up

Ensure surrounding safety, check from a distance for any people needing rescue inside the vehicle, and identify the fire’s origin. Consider various hazards based on the fire location:

• Engine fires can cause hood hinges, magnesium engine parts, batteries, and hood dampers to scatter.
• Interior fires can heat airbag inflators and seatbelt tensioners, producing dense, toxic smoke. Airbag cylinders are located from the seats to the A, B, and C pillars.
• Trunk fires, often near the fuel tank, can be extremely dangerous once heated. It’s crucial to obtain information from the driver about the trunk’s contents.

Hose Line Approach

Approach the vehicle at a 45-degree angle and spray water. Approaching from the front or rear can be hazardous due to unexpected vehicle movement, hood, and trunk damper explosions, and the potential for parts to scatter. Heated cylinders can become projectiles.

Approaching from the side is safer, but side airbags often deploy outwards. If flames are visible inside the passenger compartment, approach at a 45-degree angle and use a straight stream to cool the likely locations of airbag gas cylinders (A, B, C pillars). If the fire is limited to the engine compartment and hasn’t spread to the interior, side approaches are not as dangerous.

Regardless of the situation, do not approach from the front or rear if the hood or trunk is involved in the fire.

Nozzle Operation

Start with full-reach straight stream spraying from a distance. In windy conditions, begin spraying from an upwind position. Move the nozzle to cover the entire vehicle and periodically direct the stream downward to cool the undercarriage and gas tank. Fires under the vehicle can burn indefinitely.

For interior fires, crouch briefly and aim the stream upwards under the roof to create a sprinkler effect on the burning materials in the passenger compartment. Effective water application turns smoke white as it absorbs steam. Once the flames subside, firefighters can advance towards the vehicle. Adjust the nozzle pattern from straight stream to a wide angle, then to a medium fog pattern to provide wider coverage and protection as they approach the vehicle. Spraying fog also helps disperse harmful smoke and covers a larger area.

Vehicle Fires Safety Guidelines

1. Vehicles are Hazardous!

• Always wear respiratory protection and a full face mask.

2. Protect Yourself from Flying Debris

• Spray water from a 45-degree angle to the vehicle.

3. Prioritize Safety

• After a fire, the vehicle’s value is essentially zero. Safety comes first!

Fire Blankets

• A fire blanket is a tool used to extinguish fires by cutting off the oxygen supply.
• Compared to water or chemical extinguishers, fire blankets reduce the spread of harmful substances and prevent water and soil contamination.
• Fire blankets are effective in areas where fire trucks can’t easily reach, such as highways, tunnels, transport ships, and crowded parking lots where water may be scarce.

Vehicle Fires Summary

Firefighter safety is always the top priority. While property protection is the second priority, unlike structure fires where quick water application can save property, a vehicle on fire has virtually no value after the fire. Burned vehicles are not rebuilt. Unless there are people trapped inside, there is no reason to rush water onto a burning vehicle. Always aim for safe and sure actions when dealing with vehicle fires.

Reference page: Fire Fighting skills are crucial, and everyone must improve them.

References　National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

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