The 411 on Car and Truck Fires

Car and Truck Fire Repair

By Dan Deary, posted in Phoenix truck painting on October 03, 2013

Although it may seem like car and truck fires are a rarity and they would never happen to you, it can. The National Fire Protection Association responded to an average of 152,300 automobile fires between 2006-2010. These fires caused approximately 209 deaths, 764 injuries and $536 million in damage. It seems as though nearly every body shop you talk to has had more than one vehicle fire repair towed to their shop.

The two most common causes for these fires are broken down into two categories. The first category is combustible liquids. Gasoline make cars and truck go, but can also make the car go boom. Gasoline is highly flammable and travels in metal tubes at the bottom of the vehicle and if tiny holes form in the metal tubes, gasoline can leak out onto the fuel lines. This can cause this explosive liquid to ignite, causing a fire.

The second cause for vehicle fires is the electrical system. Vehicles nowadays have electric windows, radios, perks that enhance our experience in our vehicles. Power windows, cd players, and the other things we have in our vehicles all need electricity to run. The wires that run to these things can become broken or can have a short. When this happens, a spark can start and come into contact with other wires, causing an electrical fire.

Vehicle fires are a serious threat to the safety of yourself and of others. These fires can generate heat upwards of 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. Fires move quickly and can eject toxic liquids and flames up to ten feet in the air.

If you should ever be the victim of a vehicle fire, here are some steps that you can follow to help:

• Call 911 and leave it to the professionals to douse the fire.
• If you are driving when the fire starts, pull off to the side of the road and get out of your vehicle.
• Do not try and collect personal property from your vehicle. Once you park your vehicle and get out, try to get a minimum of 20 feet away from it.
• Do not open the hood of the car. Opening the hood can cause the fire to escalate. Air is the fuel fires need to grow, don’t give it any.
• Report the claim to your insurance company to verify what coverage you have.

About the author:
Dan Deary is president of All Pro Truck Body Shop, a heavy truck body shop located in Phoenix Arizona, specializing in truck body repair and fleet painting services.