Never park on dry grass when there's an increased risk of forest fire

BERLIN: Cars with catalytic converters should never be parked on dry vegetation or forest floors during hot weather to prevent wildfires.

According to the Auto Club Europa (ACE), a carelessly parked vehicle can quickly spark a forest fire that is difficult to control.

The exhaust system of combustion engines is particularly dangerous, as the catalytic converter heats up to 800 degrees Celsius after only a few minutes of driving.

The vehicle's brakes can also become very hot, according to the experts. Dry grass ignites at temperatures as low as 300 degrees Celsius.

This is not only an issue with low sports cars, but also affects SUVs with a lot of ground clearance as soon as there's high grass or needles, for example, which are highly flammable.

The best spot for your car during a heatwave is an asphalted or gravelled designated parking area, according to the ACE.

E-car owners, meanwhile, don't have much to worry about as their vehicle doesn't have a catalytic converter, and the other components don't heat up much.

However, the battery doesn't like being exposed to heat for a long period of time, so it's better to park in the shade.