HAMBURG: Vehicle fires are one of the most frightening things that can happen on the road, and they take place more often than you think.
The nightmare scenario for car drivers often starts with an acrid smell from under the dashboard. Suddenly smoke pours from under the bonnet and flames start licking around the bodywork.
Most motorists survive car fires like these unscathed, since they pull over and get out of the vehicle before it is consumed in flames. In some cases, an alert driver can manage to put out the blaze before emergency services arrive, although this is hazardous.
Having a fire extinguisher on board is a good idea, but only if you know how to use it. It is important to stay calm, but act quickly. By observing a few simple rules, experts say a dangerous, full-blown blaze can be avoided.
Cars do not catch fire easily.
"Carpets, cladding and trim are generally made of fire-resistant material," said Burkhard Boettcher of the ADAC car club.
Fuel-line malfunctions or split fuel pipes are among common cause of car blazes, along with blown fuses and bared electrical cables.
Minor car accidents can also trigger a fire when damage causes fuel to leak onto a hot engine or the catalytic converter underneath the floor. The devices run very hot.
Neglected maintenance is another cause of unexpected fires, so it is a good idea to take the car in for a tune-up at least once a year.
Aftermarket navigation devices, loudspeakers and other accessories are other overlooked potential fire flashpoints. These are often wired up with the wrong fuses, which allow current to flow even when the devices get too hot.
Statistics show that car fires are more common than people think but "explosions like you see in the movies are fortunately the exception," said Boettcher.
Occupant safety is the priority when a car catches fire.
"If you smell something burning, just signal or activate the hazard warning lights and pull over to the side of the road," said Boettcher. Drivers should not try to make it home before determining the cause, or waste time trying to remove luggage.
"It is important for the driver and passengers to get out swiftly. Then call emergency services."
Before running, shut off the engine, which will halt the flow of fuel and reduce the risk of a full-blown fire.
The driver and passengers should put at least 50 metres between themselves and the burning car. Onlookers and others should be kept away.
If you see smoke coming from around the engine, do not open the bonnet the whole way since the air rushing in could turn a tiny fire into a big blaze.
The best method is to squirt extinguisher foam through the front grille.
There is no point in trying to smother tyres if they start to burn - the risk of injury is too high.
In most countries, having a fire extinguisher on board is not a legal requirement. Fire prevention expert Wolfgang Kluge, who runs his own advisory business, recommends buying a compact model weighing 2kg.
"For novices, 1kg (of chemical) is not enough if you are trying to put out an under-bonnet fire," said Kluge. Larger cylinders weighing up to 5kg are too unwieldy when tackling a car fire.
Kluge advises using an extinguisher filled with foam, since the water content of the substance evaporates in the heat of the fire and helps to smother flames.
Powder-filled extinguishers are faster acting than the foam counterparts and come in smaller packages for the same effect. The powder forms a blanket or crust over the fire to starve the fire of oxygen.
However Kluge is not a fan of powder extinguishers, explaining: "If a user operates one of these by mistake in the enclosed cabin space of the car, the fine powder can blind the user within seconds."
