When it comes to car fires, people tend to believe that car fires are super easy to start, like the ones they see on TV and in movies. Many also think the opposite—that car fires never happen.
The truth is that car fires occur more often than some think but not as often as other fires.
A car fire is highly possible because all vehicles have a combination of heat, fuel, and electricity on board. All these things can cause overheating, fuel and fluid leaks, and electrical faults—which can lead to a car fire if ignored or not managed well.
If a car fire happens while you’re mobile, pull over immediately and get as far away from the vehicle as possible before calling for help.
This guide will explain everything you need to know about car fires. First, you’ll learn how common these fires are and what reasons trigger them. Then, you’ll discover how to deal with one and prevent it from growing too large.
Let’s get started.
Are Car Fires Common?
Car fires are not as common as TV and movies would like us to think. However, they happen quite a lot in Australia, and for a long list of different reasons.
For example, Fire and Rescue NSW shows in their 2020/2021 Annual Report that they deal with some 2,942 vehicle fires.
To put that figure into context, you should also know that they responded to 17,703 house fires in the same time frame.
In other words, while car fires are not as common as house fires, they’re certainly not rare either.
What Causes a Car to Catch Fire?
No matter what type of car you drive, you face the same risk of a vehicle fire as anyone else. That includes combustion-engine vehicles, hybrids, and even all-electric vehicles (EVs).
Why?
Well, it’s because all vehicles feature some combination of heat, fuel, and electricity. When you combine those things the wrong way, whether accidentally or on purpose, you get a car fire.
8 Top Causes of Car Fire
Here are 8 top reasons why a vehicle would catch fire:
- Fuel leak: The first and most apparent cause of a car fire is leaking fuel. Such a leak can happen anywhere in the fuel system, whether at the fuel lines or the fuel tank. When that leaking fuel ignites, that will cause the car to catch on fire.
- Fluid leak: Fuel isn’t the only thing you have to worry about. Cars rely on plenty of fluids to function smoothly, and some of them can catch on fire when they leak under the hood.
- Overheating: As you guessed, too much heat can lead to a car fire. However, it's not just the engine prone to running a little too hot. Don't forget that the catalytic converter also gets hot and causes the same problem underneath your car.
- Electrical faults: Inside your car's interior panels run incredible lengths of electrical wiring. That's because most cars today rely heavily on electricity to power lights, motors, and electronics. As a result, electrical faults like bad wiring and short circuits will cause wires to overheat and burn, leading to much larger flames overall.
- Battery problems: Car batteries are prone to electrical faults. They are more severe with hybrid and electric car batteries. There isn’t enough data to show which cars catch on fire the most. However, the high-voltage setups of EVs and their batteries pose so much threat that fire departments (like Fire and Rescue NSW) have special Standard Operating Procedures for dealing with cars in EVs.
- Collision: Of course, a car collision can also cause a car fire. When your car hits something hard enough, all of the above can happen. For instance, the impact could cause fuel and fluid leaks that catch fire, burning the car on the spot.
- Lack of maintenance: Believe it or not, neglecting your car’s regular maintenance can also lead to a car fire. For instance, regular servicing of your car’s cooling system will prevent your car engine from ever overheating. On top of that, getting a mechanic to inspect your vehicle will identify problems like leaks while they’re small before they can pose any severe fire risk.
- Arson: Last but not least, your car could go up in flames simply because someone made it so. Sadly, no amount of regular servicing can prevent someone with bad intentions from setting your car on fire.
Why Cars Catch Fire When They Crash
Remember that car fires are caused by a combination of heat, fuel, and electricity. Unfortunately, those three things can come into contact very quickly during a car crash.
The impact of a car crash could cut fuel lines or crack open your car's fuel tank. Other flammable automotive fluids could spill out if the impact were focused on your engine bay.
All it takes is a tiny spark to start a fire, such as those that might come from damaged car batteries or electrical wiring.
Not all car crashes are the same, but there’s a real risk of a car fire, which can be pretty unpredictable.
What You Should Do If Your Car Is on Fire
Let’s suppose your car catches on fire while you’re driving. In that case, here’s what you must do:
- Pull over, making sure you're far from people and other vehicles.
- Next, shut the engine off. Leaving it on could pose a more severe fire risk or an explosion.
- Exit the vehicle and take all of your passengers with you. Like any other fire, you should never waste time collecting things before getting away from the fire.
- Once you’re at a safe distance away from your car and other traffic, call for help.
- Lastly, warn others to stay away from the car. In some cases, the fire might not be evident to people nearby.
How Do You Prevent Car Fires?
Unfortunately, you can never prevent a car fire 100%. What you can do instead is lower your risk as much as possible by doing things like:
- Keep your car well-maintained. That will ensure your vehicle has no leaks, so parts like your engine and the catalytic converter will not overheat.
- Pay attention to wet marks underneath your car. Those could indicate auto fluid or fuel leaks that your mechanic needs to fix immediately.
- Be careful when transporting flammable fluids of any kind. You should always do so in appropriate containers and never keep them inside the cabin.
- Be wary of parking on grassy spots. Tall grass could come into contact with your hot catalytic converter and can lead to a fire.
Is It Worth Keeping a Fire Extinguisher in Your Car?
Yes, you should absolutely invest in a fire extinguisher for your car. Firstly, having that allows you to put out fires while they’re small, potentially saving your vehicle from total damage.
Having a small car fire extinguisher also allows you to help others. Not only would you be doing a good deed for someone facing a car fire, but you'll also prevent surrounding cars, properties, or public spaces and trees from fire.
For more helpful information about car fires and more, check out the CarpartAU blog. It’s updated frequently with informative articles like this one to help you become a better-informed car owner.
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By Ray Hasbollah