Before we get into what you should do if your automobile caught on fire, always make sure to have a fire extinguisher in the automobile. If you can, purchase a small one that will fit underneath the driver’s seat. This makes it readily available to you quickly in the event you need to use it. There isn’t too much that is more frightening than your car, truck, CUV, or SUV, catching on fire. Here’s what you should do to avoid the fire if you can and, if you can’t, prevent serious injury or even death, something we here at Urb’s Garage pray never happens.
Stay Alert for Danger Signs
Prevention is the best medicine. Keep alert while you’re driving for anything that would indicate your vehicle is getting too hot. Check the temperature gauge regularly. Keep an eye out for smoke. Keep a nose out for smells of hot electricity, hot chemicals, or other burning odors.
Pull Over at the First Sign of Danger
Pull over immediately if anything seems out of sorts. The key to preventing your vehicle from catching on fire is to turn it off at the first sign of trouble. If your vehicle starts to overheat, you see smoke or steam, or it smells as if something is burning, pull over to safety and shut down your automobile.
Extinguish the Blaze if it’s Manageable
If you see smoke or steam coming out from underneath the hood or from the wheels, grab your fire extinguisher, pop the hood, and extinguish the fire. Do not do this if you see a ton of black smoke or the fire is severe. Only extinguish the flames if they are manageable with your fire extinguisher.
Call 9-1-1
If your vehicle has caught on fire and it’s spreading fast, get far away from the automobile (while remaining safe from traffic) and call 9-1-1. A small fire extinguisher will not do you any good if the engine is engulfed in flames. Let the professionals handle the blaze so you don’t get hurt.
Call for a Tow
Even if you were able to extinguish the fire or the engine actually never caught on fire, don’t try to drive your vehicle again. This is just asking for trouble. Something is too hot in the automobile, whether that be the electrical wiring, the engine itself, or your brakes. Call for a tow to the automotive repair shop.
If your vehicle has been damaged by fire, call Urb’s Garage in Burlington, KY, today. We can do total engine overhauls and repair the body damage. Call us today.
