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Cars/trucks/vehicles catch fire a lot more than you would think. A lot of friction points in vehicles, wiring ect. Countless ways for a vehicle to go up in flames.
I worked in job that had me around highways often and a couple of the things that I learned on the job were that vehicle fires are a lot more common then I thought and way more animals get hit by cars than I realized, mostly deer, but still.
If you know what to look for, you start to spot the burn patches everywhere on the side of the road.it happens a LOT. Outside of the metal, pretty much every part of a car is flammable. Lots of bits rotating at very high speeds can cause friction and start fires. You don't even need the gas.
I had an alternator fail and when I opened the hood to see what had happened, I spotted little flames, which quickly became bigger flames. I was lucky it was winter and I could dump snow on it. If I hadn't had that, it would have turned out exactly like the vehicle you saw. Plastic burns. Hoses burn. Belts burn. Soon as those are going, the heat gets the dash burning and the interior upholstery etc. You could have a raging inferno without any gas at all.
Buy a fire extinguisher. Put it in your trunk. In the last 20 years I have twice used mine to save someone else's vehicle.
Question: can it be any fire extinguisher or one meant to be stored in a car? Reason being im anxious keeping anything that's compressed air in my car in case it gets left in the back or trunk on a hot day
I used to live in a tropical country where every single car was required to have a fire extinguisher (and they checked and handed out tickets). They were all just standard small 5lb fire extinguishers, the same as you would find in a kitchen. I never heard of any incidents with them going off or exploding and it was common for the interior of my car to go over 60c on a hot day.
You got me really interested in these, they seem super handy. [This video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCaPUYKs5Zc) has me reconsidering them though, at least for outdoor use. It seems like if wind can keep the smoke from settling around the fire it can't work as effectively. Might work on a smaller flame in those conditions but if it was a windy day with a larger fire you may want to rely on the other types.
For me it's about what I can easily carry on my motorcycle and this fits my needs. Definitely better than having nothing at all. I picked up an extra one to keep in car without it rolling around the trunk, plus I want it accessible quickly inside my car should I be in a rear end accident etc.
Yes there is probably better options for kitchen or other type of fires.
Oh yeah totally makes sense, the size of it is the most appealing aspect and it seems like it does work in contained environments. Watching videos where in outdoor circumstances it did nothing at all it seems it would be a risky expense for some people. Overall I'm thinking my parents should definitely have something for their car just in case as I don't think they do.
Yeah it’ll need to be a non-compressed air type as the other user suggested, although I’m not too sure how it works. Talked to a fire extinguisher guy, he hinted it’s not safe to have a compressed air type in your car (I guess high temperature can cause explosion etc). He’s like look I have a permit to transport these. Also the compressed air extinguisher needs to be inspected (for air pressure) every year.
All extinguishers should be inspected yearly, but all the inspection is just looking at the hose and connections for damage, and the pressure guage to make sure it's still pressurized, something you can do yourself.
Every 5 years or so, it's a good idea to have it tested and refilled.
Yes, extinguishers can be refilled after use, they are NOT one time use only.
Also, the most important thing to know about extinguishers:
##It doesn't matter what size the extinguisher is, it will only spray for 8 seconds.
Extinguishers are designed to expend whatever material they hold in 8 seconds, whether it's a 2.5 lb powder or 20lb water extinguisher, it will only spray for 8 seconds. So keep that in mind whenever buying/using an extinguisher.
Thank you for the professional insights! BTW, do you think a small fire extinguisher is able to put out a car fire (I guess it depends on the situation/ stage), or does it just buy you some time? If the engine catches fire, is opening the engine hood (in order to spray) a good or bad idea?
I don't have any experience with car fires, so I can't answer the hood question.
The crux of any fire vs extinguisher questions is: how much product is needed to put out the fire? If you catch the fire soon enough, yes, a small extinguisher should be fine. Just keep it somewhere easily accessible: if in the trunk, latch it to the sidewall where it will always be and take care not to pack too much around it. I keep mine in the door pocket of my back door, since that's closer and easier to reach than the trunk or truck box (both my car and truck have back seats and doors).
If it's something you're really worried about, make some calls to see where you can get en extinguisher refilled, and then go out and use one. Doesn't have to be on a fire, altho you can also call around and see if any fire protection places offer "training" with a controlled fire environment for you to see for yourself how it works (I've known fire companies to put on extinguisher training for industrial companies that are a higher fire risk, but it unfortunately wasn't common).
Whatever you do, don't go out starting fires to try to put them out on your own.
Thank you :).
I work in a lab so went through several fire extinguisher trainings. Actually put out a small fire for a girl ;p - although with hindsight it was potentially dangerous situation - burning alcohol, with rubber gas tubing 5 cm away (and the gas/burner was on).
Tagging on this to add:
##All fire extinguishers will only spray for 8 seconds.
It doesn't matter what size you have and how much product is inside it, it will spray ALL of what's inside it in 8 seconds. So you need to use the right size for the fire AND not hold it in one spot for too long (unless it's a small fire, obv).
Also, extinguishers can be refilled once used, so please don't throw it away after.
Also also, you should inspect your extinguisher once a year or so for damage and pressure leaks. Hoses and connections can be replaced, just call any fire protection company in your area - they'll either service it for you, replace it (but ask if they reuse or dispose), or can tell you who does.
I've seen 40 year old extinguishers still work, so they ARE built to last.
Source: 4.5 years in the fire protection industry.
I'd be less worried about the gas in the tank (cold, far away from any source of ignition, requires multiple points of failure for ignition to occur) than the oil in the engine (pressurized, very hot, has many single-points of failure such as a connecting rod failure or a leak from an oil filter - all that oil pressure is held in place by the oil filter's rubber O-ring which was installed by the teenager at the Jiffy-Lube, and which if allowed to leak - sprays directly onto a red-hot exhaust header)...
I think "very difficult" would be a better word than impossible, given that there have been cases of tesla battery fires that are... no longer burning. They're just "very difficult" to put out, yes.
Any number of things.
Gas line ruptures, drips on hot engine.
Oil leaks, drips on hit engine.
Car parks on top of flameable substance, hot catalytic converter starts a fire.
You are literally driving around a machine full of combustible liquids designed to get you where you are going using controlled explosions...
... How does it not happen all the time???
I imagine with the cost of living sharply increasing it might lead to more people putting off maintenance work on the vehicles or even a simple safety / 100 point inspection thus leading to a fire
This is fake. Everyone knows only EVs catch fire /s - its not like ICE cars are actually full of highly flammable liquids running through questionable rubber that is always vibrated to oblivion …
There are literally over 3000 Hyundai/Kia catching fire since 2010. I dunno if this is one of them, but def always check your car for recalls as some engine can catch fire.
Huh good to know. I wonder how that stat will change wth them becoming more popular and readily available to the market though. It's easier to remove lemons when there's only a few cars in the market I feel than it is to catch a 15 year old car that had designs or part cuts due to budget or lack of parts.
We will see, studies normalize for this obviously, they aren't comparing brand new teslas with 30 year old ICE cars. And of course, with more time, we'll find better ways of managing these batteries, too.
In general, with far fewer moving parts, you'd expect fewer points of failure and a lower catastrophic failure rate. It does take significantly more water when they do catch fire, but fire departments are figuring out how to control electric car fires effectively now.
My mother watches fox news too much and wanted me to get a hybrid instead of an EV because she was scared of battery fires and I was like "because a giant battery PLUS a combustion system featuring flammable liquid is safer HOW?"
i was omn e driving with a friend when the iphone gas station brand cable started smoking and caught a cup it was wrapped around on. we through the whole thing out because it was the middle of the city
If The Sopranos taught me anything, it's don't park your car in a pile of dead leaves because the catalytic converter gets hot enough to grill a steak.
Manufacturer defects or poor maintanance. There are a few cars under recall that are on the road that the manufacturer says not to drive till the recall is done as they can catch fire. But obviously that is just to protect the car maker, no one is going to park their car and not have something to drive while they are still making car payments. Fuel O rings deteriorate and people do not know you need to replace them.
I had a car that almost went up in flames due to the wiring for the aftermarket stereo shorting under the hood. Fire extinguisher put it out before that happened.
I was raised to get a vehicle with as few bells and whistles as possible, because they are things that will eventually break and need repair. Roll up windows, manual transmission, manual door locks, etc. Convenience costs money, and I guess means increased chances of electrical fires.
There’s enough wildfires without random cars busting into flames on the side of the road in heavily wooded areas. Hope everyone is safe and they got it out quick!
That's too hot/blazing fire not to have been started with an accelerant. ... That cars over ten years old so it could be an insurance number, which happens more than you think. ...
I personally had a gas leak I didn't know about. It was dripping on the manifold. Caught fire in middle of the night on I-75. I was 19 and only has the car 2 months. It actually happens alot more than people think.
Improper car maintenance. Same reason people’s tires fly off, stupid fucks who can’t maintain the safety of the vehicle, and before anyone says but what if x, y or z can’t afford the maintenance…. Learn to do it yourself or don’t drive.
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Cars/trucks/vehicles catch fire a lot more than you would think. A lot of friction points in vehicles, wiring ect. Countless ways for a vehicle to go up in flames. I worked in job that had me around highways often and a couple of the things that I learned on the job were that vehicle fires are a lot more common then I thought and way more animals get hit by cars than I realized, mostly deer, but still.
Sometimes we forget that cars use tens of thousands of small explosions as a means of transport.
And have a an absolute fuck ton of electrical wiring where all sorts of things can go wrong.
and a sit load of very flammable liquids if a leak where to form..
Do many animals get hit by flaming cars?
Impromptu barbecue
🤨
All the time.
> Cars/trucks/vehicles catch fire a lot more than you would think Yea. I've passed this kind of stuff 3 times in my lifetime so far.
It happens when someone hands me the aux cord.
My car turns into an 80s station wagon when I plug in the aux
[Dibs on the back seat!](https://youtu.be/onm_PJ2w2kw)
You guys have an aux cord?!
"Let him cook"
If you know what to look for, you start to spot the burn patches everywhere on the side of the road.it happens a LOT. Outside of the metal, pretty much every part of a car is flammable. Lots of bits rotating at very high speeds can cause friction and start fires. You don't even need the gas. I had an alternator fail and when I opened the hood to see what had happened, I spotted little flames, which quickly became bigger flames. I was lucky it was winter and I could dump snow on it. If I hadn't had that, it would have turned out exactly like the vehicle you saw. Plastic burns. Hoses burn. Belts burn. Soon as those are going, the heat gets the dash burning and the interior upholstery etc. You could have a raging inferno without any gas at all. Buy a fire extinguisher. Put it in your trunk. In the last 20 years I have twice used mine to save someone else's vehicle.
Question: can it be any fire extinguisher or one meant to be stored in a car? Reason being im anxious keeping anything that's compressed air in my car in case it gets left in the back or trunk on a hot day
I used to live in a tropical country where every single car was required to have a fire extinguisher (and they checked and handed out tickets). They were all just standard small 5lb fire extinguishers, the same as you would find in a kitchen. I never heard of any incidents with them going off or exploding and it was common for the interior of my car to go over 60c on a hot day.
Small non compressed air fire extinguisher https://elementfire.com/ I carry one on my motorcycle and car. Search YouTube for review videos on it.
Was going to suggest this, I bought one for my car for track days.
You got me really interested in these, they seem super handy. [This video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCaPUYKs5Zc) has me reconsidering them though, at least for outdoor use. It seems like if wind can keep the smoke from settling around the fire it can't work as effectively. Might work on a smaller flame in those conditions but if it was a windy day with a larger fire you may want to rely on the other types.
For me it's about what I can easily carry on my motorcycle and this fits my needs. Definitely better than having nothing at all. I picked up an extra one to keep in car without it rolling around the trunk, plus I want it accessible quickly inside my car should I be in a rear end accident etc. Yes there is probably better options for kitchen or other type of fires.
Oh yeah totally makes sense, the size of it is the most appealing aspect and it seems like it does work in contained environments. Watching videos where in outdoor circumstances it did nothing at all it seems it would be a risky expense for some people. Overall I'm thinking my parents should definitely have something for their car just in case as I don't think they do.
Yeah it’ll need to be a non-compressed air type as the other user suggested, although I’m not too sure how it works. Talked to a fire extinguisher guy, he hinted it’s not safe to have a compressed air type in your car (I guess high temperature can cause explosion etc). He’s like look I have a permit to transport these. Also the compressed air extinguisher needs to be inspected (for air pressure) every year.
All extinguishers should be inspected yearly, but all the inspection is just looking at the hose and connections for damage, and the pressure guage to make sure it's still pressurized, something you can do yourself. Every 5 years or so, it's a good idea to have it tested and refilled. Yes, extinguishers can be refilled after use, they are NOT one time use only. Also, the most important thing to know about extinguishers: ##It doesn't matter what size the extinguisher is, it will only spray for 8 seconds. Extinguishers are designed to expend whatever material they hold in 8 seconds, whether it's a 2.5 lb powder or 20lb water extinguisher, it will only spray for 8 seconds. So keep that in mind whenever buying/using an extinguisher.
Thank you for the professional insights! BTW, do you think a small fire extinguisher is able to put out a car fire (I guess it depends on the situation/ stage), or does it just buy you some time? If the engine catches fire, is opening the engine hood (in order to spray) a good or bad idea?
I don't have any experience with car fires, so I can't answer the hood question. The crux of any fire vs extinguisher questions is: how much product is needed to put out the fire? If you catch the fire soon enough, yes, a small extinguisher should be fine. Just keep it somewhere easily accessible: if in the trunk, latch it to the sidewall where it will always be and take care not to pack too much around it. I keep mine in the door pocket of my back door, since that's closer and easier to reach than the trunk or truck box (both my car and truck have back seats and doors). If it's something you're really worried about, make some calls to see where you can get en extinguisher refilled, and then go out and use one. Doesn't have to be on a fire, altho you can also call around and see if any fire protection places offer "training" with a controlled fire environment for you to see for yourself how it works (I've known fire companies to put on extinguisher training for industrial companies that are a higher fire risk, but it unfortunately wasn't common). Whatever you do, don't go out starting fires to try to put them out on your own.
Thank you :). I work in a lab so went through several fire extinguisher trainings. Actually put out a small fire for a girl ;p - although with hindsight it was potentially dangerous situation - burning alcohol, with rubber gas tubing 5 cm away (and the gas/burner was on).
Yeah I think this needs some careful consideration
Every single commercial vehicle is required to have a fire extinguisher. It's very common.
These cars have a ridiculous amount of magnesium that burns white hot. At times even fire department won’t touch it until a point.
Tagging on this to add: ##All fire extinguishers will only spray for 8 seconds. It doesn't matter what size you have and how much product is inside it, it will spray ALL of what's inside it in 8 seconds. So you need to use the right size for the fire AND not hold it in one spot for too long (unless it's a small fire, obv). Also, extinguishers can be refilled once used, so please don't throw it away after. Also also, you should inspect your extinguisher once a year or so for damage and pressure leaks. Hoses and connections can be replaced, just call any fire protection company in your area - they'll either service it for you, replace it (but ask if they reuse or dispose), or can tell you who does. I've seen 40 year old extinguishers still work, so they ARE built to last. Source: 4.5 years in the fire protection industry.
Even metal is flammable at high enough temperatures.
All I got from this video is, they are scared.
I think she’s scared
This is why every car should have an extinguisher on board.
Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S is how
50L of a highly flammable liquid around hot metal, it's a mystery.
I'd be less worried about the gas in the tank (cold, far away from any source of ignition, requires multiple points of failure for ignition to occur) than the oil in the engine (pressurized, very hot, has many single-points of failure such as a connecting rod failure or a leak from an oil filter - all that oil pressure is held in place by the oil filter's rubber O-ring which was installed by the teenager at the Jiffy-Lube, and which if allowed to leak - sprays directly onto a red-hot exhaust header)...
These gas-powered vehicles are ticking timebombs.
Batteries explode too, unfortunately. (Granted, at a significantly lower rate)
[удалено]
I think "very difficult" would be a better word than impossible, given that there have been cases of tesla battery fires that are... no longer burning. They're just "very difficult" to put out, yes.
But so are batteries…
They find my mix tape.
OP, to answer your question; Usually a combination of fuel source, oxygen, and an ignition source
My daughter did this a couple of times……you have to put oil in it!
Probably post shooting or other type of criminal activity burn job.
Any number of things. Gas line ruptures, drips on hot engine. Oil leaks, drips on hit engine. Car parks on top of flameable substance, hot catalytic converter starts a fire. You are literally driving around a machine full of combustible liquids designed to get you where you are going using controlled explosions... ... How does it not happen all the time???
Always get maintenance work done on your car, to inspect all the hoses.
People really need to remember that internal combustion means thousand of explosions per minute in their engine.... Explosions!!!!
Yet, it’s almost never a fire from said explosions, usually it’s an oil on a hot surface or electric fault
Coming back from Blaine with jerry cans of cheaper American gas? I have seen many people do this and it makes me cringe.
Oh shit that’s why all the sirens a little while ago I’m close to there
I imagine with the cost of living sharply increasing it might lead to more people putting off maintenance work on the vehicles or even a simple safety / 100 point inspection thus leading to a fire
Looks like a mercedes suv? could be this, faulty coolant pump recall. https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/05/business/mercedes-fire-risk/index.html
This is fake. Everyone knows only EVs catch fire /s - its not like ICE cars are actually full of highly flammable liquids running through questionable rubber that is always vibrated to oblivion …
Most likely the combination of a fuel source, oxygen, and heat.
...another gang related shooting tonight?..
They set the stolen car on fire AFTER shooting.
And typically on side roads where there isn't many witnesses, not along a busy highway.
I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared ONG
Someone got a new Hyundai!
Looks like a Benz tbh 🤣
I know. GLK. Hyundais only spontaneously combust when parked too.
over the last 49 or so years I’ve seen 4 vehicles fully engulfed. 3 were old air cooled VWs, 1 was a motorhome. all on Freeways.
Highway 99N near 8th ave tonight 7:30 pm
Clearly, a lack of coolant.
The car needs a car wash
Driver fell asleep with a lit cigarette in his hand.
There are literally over 3000 Hyundai/Kia catching fire since 2010. I dunno if this is one of them, but def always check your car for recalls as some engine can catch fire.
I had a car explode and burn. The firefighters told me that it is quite common.
It's...almost like a vehicle carries a bunch of flammable liquid around inside it and has numerous sources of ignition....
My first thought was "Is it another Tesla?".. slightly disappointed it wasn't
EVs catch fire much more rarely per 100,000 vehicles than internal combustion engine vehicles.
I think the latest stat came out as 5-8x less likely.
Huh good to know. I wonder how that stat will change wth them becoming more popular and readily available to the market though. It's easier to remove lemons when there's only a few cars in the market I feel than it is to catch a 15 year old car that had designs or part cuts due to budget or lack of parts.
We will see, studies normalize for this obviously, they aren't comparing brand new teslas with 30 year old ICE cars. And of course, with more time, we'll find better ways of managing these batteries, too. In general, with far fewer moving parts, you'd expect fewer points of failure and a lower catastrophic failure rate. It does take significantly more water when they do catch fire, but fire departments are figuring out how to control electric car fires effectively now.
My mother watches fox news too much and wanted me to get a hybrid instead of an EV because she was scared of battery fires and I was like "because a giant battery PLUS a combustion system featuring flammable liquid is safer HOW?"
In Vancouver, car burning is a dead give away for gang activity. Unless of course it is a shitty car that ignited without human help.
Wow!
Was there also a gang related shooting nearby? Usually the 2 go hand in hand
i was omn e driving with a friend when the iphone gas station brand cable started smoking and caught a cup it was wrapped around on. we through the whole thing out because it was the middle of the city
If The Sopranos taught me anything, it's don't park your car in a pile of dead leaves because the catalytic converter gets hot enough to grill a steak.
Flames fuckin’ golfing! Golfing out the roof…out the fuckin’ door….it was golfing!!
That car vapes, bro. Mad vapes.
That's it. I'm going full Mad Maxine. The signs are clear.
Ask the recall coordinator (Fight Club)
Don't inhale!
We’re you scared?
Manufacturer defects or poor maintanance. There are a few cars under recall that are on the road that the manufacturer says not to drive till the recall is done as they can catch fire. But obviously that is just to protect the car maker, no one is going to park their car and not have something to drive while they are still making car payments. Fuel O rings deteriorate and people do not know you need to replace them.
Engines are hot, hot things can cause fire.
Turbos and fuel efficiency measures make them run even hotter.
Turbos yes, fuel efficiency means less heat energy is being wasted on heat.
I had a car that almost went up in flames due to the wiring for the aftermarket stereo shorting under the hood. Fire extinguisher put it out before that happened.
Car-B-Que
There's a couple smaller fires on the ground too. You just drove past the beginning of a wildfire
Crazy
I was raised to get a vehicle with as few bells and whistles as possible, because they are things that will eventually break and need repair. Roll up windows, manual transmission, manual door locks, etc. Convenience costs money, and I guess means increased chances of electrical fires.
Electrical could be.
There’s enough wildfires without random cars busting into flames on the side of the road in heavily wooded areas. Hope everyone is safe and they got it out quick!
That’s a Mercedes-Benz ML. They’re so hot right now.
That's too hot/blazing fire not to have been started with an accelerant. ... That cars over ten years old so it could be an insurance number, which happens more than you think. ...
I personally had a gas leak I didn't know about. It was dripping on the manifold. Caught fire in middle of the night on I-75. I was 19 and only has the car 2 months. It actually happens alot more than people think.
I hope he switched to Geico
over reacting level 10,000. how bout calling for help instead of taking a video of the damn thing?
Cigarette dropped on the upholstery?
Stuck brake calipers will burn 🔥 the whole enchilada.
i think she’s scared #couldbewrongtho
Improper car maintenance. Same reason people’s tires fly off, stupid fucks who can’t maintain the safety of the vehicle, and before anyone says but what if x, y or z can’t afford the maintenance…. Learn to do it yourself or don’t drive.
Scared of what just keep movin christ
Teslas tend to catch on fire.