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Cars are often on fire. And then the number of vehicle fires seems to be increasing from year to year, as each one makes headlines. But: No, the number of car fires is not increasing – experts agree. Some car insurers have even noticed a drop, although the exact total figures are not. It is estimated that around 7,000 cars are burned each year. It sounds like a lot, but for comparison: there are an additional 10,000 car crashes with injuries each year.
But we are more aware of the extraordinary fires in the online age, and their causes have changed. The main cause is by far the electrical system, not the formerly common carburetor fire or leakage of fuel or oil from poor maintenance (eg falling on hot parts). Fire after a collision is rare. Again, there are no exact figures, but experts say that these account for one percent of the accidents.
No explosion in sight
If the car is on fire, hurry before it explodes? This is bullshit. Hollywood style fireballs are only found in movies. Although punctures are often reported after fires, they are usually caused by punctured tires. So don’t panic: cars burn relatively slowly. It usually takes five to eight minutes before the flames from the engine compartment reach the interior, and then a few more minutes until a full-blown fire breaks out.
So there is enough time to save passengers and luggage – because this is exactly what is not done today for fear of an explosion! With a little luck, you can save the car from being completely lost with a fire extinguisher. If not, the fire department can usually no longer prevent it. But what if the gas tank is damaged in an accident? In this very rare case, the fire spreads very quickly but nothing explodes.
By the way, electric cars burn not more often, but statistically even less. A burning battery is tough for the fire brigade, but when the fire starts, the same goes for passengers in electric cars as it is in all cars. Meanwhile, natural gas tanks, like the hydrogen tanks of fuel cell cars, in the event of a fire, burn the contents in a controlled manner as soon as the flames reach the tank. So there is no explosion here either.
7 tips just in case
- Fire extinguishers and protective gloves are inexpensive and help a lot. A pound of extinguisher discharges very quickly, there should be at least two kilos of powder. Installation in front of the seat or in the trunk. It is not loose inside, otherwise it will become a bullet in a collision. Familiarize yourself with the use and have the fire extinguisher serviced regularly according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
- In case of fire: turn on hazard lights, pull over. Keep Calm! If possible, stay away from the lane or near buildings. Ignition off, leave key in place. pull the hood opener.
- Secure the vehicle (fault triangle), then from afar – the smoke is toxic! – secure (behind the collision barrier). Alert the fire brigade (118 or 112 emergency calls). Even in the event of an accident, protection precedes first aid, which in turn precedes an emergency call. In the event of a fire, it is often more advisable to rescue the survivors from the vehicle than to try to extinguish the failed vehicle.
- If there is a fire extinguisher: put on gloves, carefully open the hood (protect your face with your arm). Two kilos of extinguishing powder is enough for only about ten seconds! Therefore, work with short bursts of dust. Extinguish flames from below (for example, a fire under a car) upwards. Do not drain the extinguisher completely, but have a spare for re-strokes.
- Special occasion electric car: Specify this when calling an emergency. Do not attempt to extinguish with water! Keep away from orange wires. If the battery catches fire, it is futile to try to extinguish it. If you want to assist the fire brigade, you should carry a rescue card (available from the manufacturer) with instructions for rescuers (behind the sun visor), especially in the electric car.
- Far enough away from the burning car: The smoke is very toxic and the heat produced is huge. When in doubt, remember this: A car is a car, partial insurance covers the damage.
- Last but not least: If the plane has a fire extinguisher, please offer to help.
By the way: There are many cases of insurance fraud attempts, especially when it comes to vehicle fires that experts can easily uncover.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
