PREVENT VEHICLE FIRES
... and what to do when it happens
Earlier this year, Ford recalled certain models of the Kuga after around 40 of these SUVs caught fire on the road. For months before the recall, there were reports, photos and videos on social and other media of Kuga drivers who say their vehicles inexplicable started burning. Many had to watch helplessly from the roadside as their cars burnt to hunks of metal. According to posts on the Facebook group “Ford Vehicles Burning,” up to 43 Kugas caught fire in little over a year on SA’s roads, reported Maroelamedia. It looked like most of the fires were caused by an engine cooling issue. Kuga owners had been complaining about overheating engines regularly and it seemed the fires started in the engine bay. The situation reached a tipping point when the owner of a 2014 Kuga, Reshall Jimmy (33), burnt to death in his vehicle. According to the police investigation, the fire started at the front of the car, apparently in the engine bay. Following the incident, Ford announced on 16 January this year that the company would recall 4 566 Kugas built between December 2012 and February 2014, Quartz reported. Ford’s explanation: The vehicles could burn out due to overheating.
A snake in the grass
Overheating is not the only issue that can cause a vehicle to catch fire, however. In July 2016 (Drive Out #102) we investigated a case of two Toyota Prados that had burnt out in the Namib Desert. According to Simon Wearne from the tour company Live the Journey, it’s suspected that the two vehicles were travelling through thick grass. Lots of grass seeds consequently got stuck underneath the vehicles and they caught fire. Willem du Toit from Molopo Wapens & 4x4 Toere also told us at the time of many vehicles he has had to save from disaster after grass got caught in their undercarriage and consequently caught fire. So engine overheating and off-road driving in tall grass are two definite things that can cause a vehicle fire. But what else can make your vehicle suddenly burst into flames?
Know the risks
Johan Meyer from J.B.’s Auto Repairs in Parow, Cape Town, is a specialist in the maintenance and repair of Toyota 4x4s and really knows his stuff around Cruisers. He agrees about the dangers of grass fires. “It’s really a big risk, especially if it gets stuck around the catalytic converter. But vehicles driven with the manufacturer’s standard parts and specifications usually don’t cause trouble, except when grass seeds have collected underneath the vehicle, of course,” he says. “I was equally surprised to see so many Kugas catch fire, because manufacturers test their vehicles thoroughly.” The moment you have your vehicle modified, however, you can potentially cause a risk, says this specialist. He highlights five specific fire dangers of badly installed modifications:
Dual-battery systems
These systems are one of the main culprits behind 4x4s burning. “I’ve even been close to a disaster right here in my workshop when a guy’s 100 Series Land Cruiser almost went up in flames. He disconnected a battery before bringing the vehicle in, but he left the cables lying around. And as Murphy’s Law would have it, the positive pole touched the chassis and used it as an earth. In not time, everything was glowing hot, even under the carpets. This is especially dangerous, Johan explains, since the footwells under the rugs are often used to lay wiring in. “This is, of course, where you usually put your radio wires. So the next thing you know, those wires and your vehicle catch fire! “You see, once electrical wires start to glow, they will keep burning as long as they receive electric power. And the insulation around the wire is fuel for such a fire.” Johan says he’s seen many dangerous setups – dual-battery systems installed incorrectly and then neglected by the vehicle owners, too. “I also see lots of cabling installed without an earth. That’s very dangerous. And remember, a normal fire extinguisher doesn’t work on an electrical fire” (you need a powder or CO2 extinguisher).
Other wiring
Your vehicle’s standard wiring has been tested to function properly, but the moment you add things into the system that are not standard – like two-way radios, chargers or a fridge – you need to make very sure the wiring is done properly. “I’ve seen strange things. Some guys will take any circuit and splice their new wires into that for power. That could cause a dangerous short circuit.” John’s advice is simple: Rather go to a professional vehicle electrician and get it done the safe way. And always make sure it’s done within the manufacturer’s specifications!
Long-range fuel tanks
When it comes to the installation of a second fuel tank for touring, there are two dangers – pipes that leak fuel and pipes that are not insulated properly and routed too close to the exhaust system. A fuel line leaking a flammable liquid is an obvious red flag, but judging the correct distance between fuel pipes and searing hot components of the vehicle is more complicated. “Some guys just gauge it with the naked eye and decide the pipe is far enough from the exhaust system. But have a look under your hood one night after a hard drive, that manifold gets white hot!” You also have to make sure that any movement of your vehicle’s parts doesn’t cause a fire danger, he adds. “What if serious vehicle articulation causes the fuel line to press against a glowing hot exhaust? People don’t always consider all these factors when putting in new pipes, or electrical wiring for that matter.”
Flammable liquids
“My sons Subaru recently burnt out after he’d done some modifications to it,” says Johan. “The oil pipe burst one day, causing oil to be sprayed over the hot turbo charger, where it caught fire. “To make matters worse, his fire extinguisher was in his other
car. And when a truck driver stopped to help, his extinguisher was empty! My son watched his vehicle burn out right there next to the road.” For this reason, Johan says it’s very important to make sure any modifications within the engine bay are also done very carefully. If any pipe comes loose and starts spraying flammable liquid around this extremely hot environment, disaster is guaranteed.
If the flames trap you
While flames from a vehicle fire are the most obvious danger, they’re not the only one, says the paramedic Jacques Lourens. “In my experience, it’s the dangerous gases that hurt or kill people in the event of a vehicle fire.” Fires like these often release carbon monoxide, which is extremely toxic, he explains. And since the air vents give direct access to the cabin for any gases from a fire in the engine bay, those gases reach you very soon after a fire starts. “It will smell a lot like exhaust fumes, and while your brain might realise that you’re inhaling gas and make you cough, the rest of your body doesn’t. Your system recognises it as oxygen and readily absorbs this toxic gas. Carbon monoxide is highly soluble in the blood, so it’s extremely dangerous and can poison your body rapidly.” A further danger is that the electronics in your vehicle stop working, trapping you inside when windows and door releases cease to work. “You might have a manual override to unlock the doors, but if the electronics get fried and neither the doors nor windows will open, you’re in trouble. This is what you do, says this paramedic.
Buy some time
While it’s important to exit your vehicle as soon as possible, a very short exposure to flames and gas is insignificant, explains Jacques. So if you can’t escape immediately, you can buy yourself some time to find a way out. “Close all the air vents,” he says. “And if there’s some water and a t-shirt or cloth, wet it and cover your mouth and nose. A damp cloth cools and cleans the air slightly.”
Get out fast
“People have the perception that kicking the car windows or hitting them with a fist or elbow works,” says Jacques. “But a car window isn’t mounted rigidly enough for that to be likely. You need to penetrate the surface with something sharp, creating a concentrated pressure point to crack it.” Paramedics like Jacques use a tool called a window punch – a hand-held device with a sharp, hardened point (see the photograph next to the tip in red). “I always keep one in my 4x4. It’s a quick and easy way to escape from a burning vehicle, and also very handy if something goes wrong in a water crossing. Mine even has an integrated hook knife to cut the seatbelt.” Window punches generally aren’t very expensive, costing only a couple of hundred rands. “But they’re very effective – only three or four decent hits do the job,” he assures. Just be careful of tinted windows, as the shaded laminate makes them tougher to break than untinted windows.
TIP: If you don’t have a window punch like this, remove a headrest from one of your car seats. The metal rods holding it in place can be used to smash a window and escape. Some tactical knives sometimes have a similar point on the back of the handle made for this purpose, and something like a Leatherman or the handle of any decent knife will work.
Douse the fire (if possible)
If you need to try and extinguish a fire in the engine bay, it’s very important to do it right. “Never lift the bonnet,” warns Jacques. “It will give the fire more oxygen and only make it worse. Just unclip it and discharge the entire canister into the engine bay.” A CO2 fire extinguisher works well for this, since the gas will fill the entire engine bay and hopefully smother the fire. When it comes to the size of extinguisher, “the bigger, the better,” he says. “The price difference is not so big. Just make sure it’s something you can keep within easy reach inside your vehicle.
Inspect the injuries
Once you’re outside the vehicle and at a safe distance, notify emergency services (if someone hasn’t done so already) and do a quick inspection for burn injuries. You might not be able to treat all of them yourself, but it will help the paramedics to know who needs the most urgent attention when they arrive. “The sensitive areas of the face, mouth, neck and genitals are much more important than the rest of the body. If you see burn wounds here, it could be very serious. “Burn wounds around the face and neck could mean there’s some internal damage because the intense heat probably burned the inside of the airways.” Jacques also advises to listen for hard breathing, severe coughing or wheezing, as this could also signify damage in the upper airway. “Even a small flame inhalation can have a catastrophic effect,” he warns. Also see our Bush Doc, the trauma specialist Dr Jacques Malan’s advice on treating burn wounds in Drive Out #84.