A Follow Up Article On Fires In Our Vehicles & How Best To Contain It

The earlier article, ” What To Do If Your Car Bursts Into Flames?“, touched upon the urgent necessity to have fire extinguishers in our vehicles. In this follow up article, an attempt will be made to highlight some of the possible areas in a vehicle most likely to sprout a fire.

A vehicle is a very likely place for fire to begin. This is because it is made up of many combustible items such as fuel, wirings, rubber cushions and carpets.

It takes but only a few minutes for a car to burst into flames. Therefore, a fire extinguisher is one important item. Every motorist should have it in his vehicle.

For your information, a portable fire extinguisher costs only approximately RM100. But think what it can do in case of an emergency situation.

Where are the likely places for a fire to begin in a vehicle? That’s what one might tend to ask. The most likely places for a fire to begin if you should enquire of me are:

1) The engine compartment.

Herein lies the battery connections. The battery is considered the heart of a vehicle. It supplies current to all parts of a car or vehicle. Any short circuit will obviously spark a fire.

A word of advice though. Any wiring connections should ideally be conducted by a wireman, a specialist on all things connected with wirings.

In this compartment also is the carburetor unit. Fuel, which is highly combustible flows in and out of it. Any leakages would result in fuel landing onto a hot engine. This would cause a fire to ignite and the engine bursting into flames.

As a driver of many years experience, it is my personal opinion that is such an eventuality happen, only a fire extinguisher can possibly help to put out the fire. To avoid such an incident happening, drivers are advised to be on the alert all the time.

Fuel can easily be detected. In fact, a good driver can actually smell fuel leakages. Should you detect fuel leakages, you should immediately stop your vehicle to investigate its source. You are advised to instantly drive your vehicle to the nearest mechanic to rectify the problem or flaw. Failing which, danger lurks.

At times, the battery can also be the cause of a fire breaking out. Wrong connections of the terminals can cause fires and short circuit wires. This causes fires.

As such, drivers who do not know much about a car’s wiring system are reminded not to meddle with anything that is connected with circuitry matters. Leave it to the experts to be on the safe side.

2) The driver’s compartment.

The driver’s compartment consists of a few items which could also ignite a fire. Usually, radio connections and switches of disc players are some of the places where fire can spark up a flame. Radios or L.C.D screen should ideal be repaired by someone who is well versed with electronic gadgets only.

Another probable source of fire is the air-con switch. This item which conveys high voltage current is most likely to be burnt out easily. Therefore, such points should be consistently checked all the time. If need be, these points and switches should be replaced often. This is to prevent fires from breaking out.

3) The booth area.

There are cases where fires have been reported to have begun from the booth itself. Drivers are very fond of storing inflammable contents such as petrol at the back of the car.

Petrol is very easily combustible. So try to avoid keeping spare petrol in the booth itself. If a fire should begin from the booth, quickly douse it out with a fire extinguisher.

Fire can also begin from the booth area due to another reason. This is because the vehicle’s fuel tank is situated directly below it. When a car sustained a major knock especially when hit by another vehicle, the fuel tank is most likely to sustain damage or leakage.

Try to sniff out leakage of fuel from the fuel tank. Get a fire extinguisher ready to combat a fire should any eventuality occur.

These are but some of the places where fire are most likely to occur. Remember, to fight fire with a fire extinguisher and not water, is the only way to save your car.

As said earlier, drivers should be constantly ready to fight flames which can engulf a vehicle anytime. Remember using water will destroy cables of a vehicle. This will incur lots of money to repair the damage.

Where must fire extinguishers be kept in a car?

Preferable below the driver’s seat. For easy access when fire occurs and never in the booth.

Permit me to quote a few important factors regarding fires before this short article ends. Once upon a time, I was in charge of fires in an establishment I once worked for. Fire officials from Bomba used to advise, 3 minutes is what it takes to destroy a vehicle!

If you can’t control a fire within the first 3 minutes, you might as well forget calling the fire brigade. Your vehicle will surely be a total loss!

A final word of advice though. When trying to put out a fire, aim the nozzle of the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire itself. That they say is the way to put out a fire.

First, it was the giving away of 135,000 safety helmets to riders all across the nation. Then the government announced the reduction of motorcycle driving licenses from RM20 to only RM2. The cost of securing a B2 motorcycle license then fell from nearly RM280 to RM210.

Can we next expect the government to provide motorcyclists with free personal accident policies?

In a country where huge tractors have gone lost from government establishments and jet engines worth millions of ringgit have been carted out and sold overseas, anything is quite possible. Malaysia Boleh, I suppose!

Very recently, the Road Safety Department Director General, Datuk Sureet Singh, announced the Rider Survival Programme would be a value-added module on top of the present mandatory 6 hour theory course and practical training which a potential candidate has to undergo prior to his being issued a Learner’s Driving License (L.D.L.) or “L” license by the J.P.J. The above steps were announced in safety campaign programme in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Beginning from the year 2010, motorcyclists will now be taught survival skills at selected driving institutions all across the country. The aim is to reduce and minimize road fatalities involving motorcyclists.

What does this programme hope to achieve? What are the aims of the government in launching such a campaign, one may tend to inquire?

First and foremost, it is the intention of the authorities concerned to make it a continuous effort to change the mindset of motorcyclists. And also to make road safety a culture, especially among the youths of today.

What has this programme been thought fit to be introduced at this stage?

With the problem of the “Mat Rempit” menace escalating all across the whole country, the government obviously has to do something to contain the problem.

One should not forget though, 60% of all road fatalities in the country involve motorcyclists. According to the Director General of the Road Transport Department, Datuk Sureet Singh, “motor cyclists who currently had the “L” license will now have to undergo compulsory training under the programme before they can be awarded a license to ride.

Under the programme, various important skills such as:

i) How to face unforeseen problems as punctured tyres.

ii) How to deal with bumpy roads.

iii) How to contend with obstacles such as such and stones on the road.

In short, new motorcyclists holding “P” licenses can now be expected to equipped with not only the Highway Code and practical training, practical and survival knowledge as well.

This new programme is to be available free of charge in all driving institutions which currently come under the auspices of the Association of Malaysian Driving Institutes.

Datuk Sureet Singh further reiterated, this model programme would become a model for other ASEAN countries to follow.

It was also reported that Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) would be playing a vital and important part in the programme. This is due to the fact that 19,742 claims have been put forward to SOCSO for commuting or “going to work” claims by motorcyclists. 80% of claims involve motorcyclists.

SOCSO was said to have paid out claims amounting to some RM1.8 million in compensation to subscribers last year alone.

All in all, it is my opinion that this program, which is free, will certainly go along way to help motorcyclists and riders tackle problem which they will face whilst on the road.

Eventually, it is hoped the number of fatal accidents on our highways will be reduced tremendously. Syabas to the Road Safety Department and the authorities as a whole, for launching such a good move! We all await patiently to see the results of the programme.

Ride safely and wear your helmets. To the Minister of Transport, Datuk Ong Tee Keat, bravo for job well done!

To attempt achieving a Class D driving license, a potential student needs a few months. Securing the license above does not end his or her woes and problems. In fact, his or her problems begin.

A new and inexperienced driver begins facing such problems as summons, parking fees and traffic violations. Besides this, an inexperienced driver will begin to face numerous risks and emergencies. Amongst some most common challenges are:

i) The inability of his car not being able to start at times.

ii) His vehicle crashing into a swollen river.

iii) The possibility of his car catching fire or bursting into flames.

To avoid the third possibility mentioned above taking place, a driver should purchase 1st party insurance, which covers risks of fire.

Having fire insurance cover for your car alone is not sufficient. Drivers should be reminded that a vehicle especially a new vehicle should also have fire extinguishers in it. But, except for commercial vehicles such as vans, buses, lorries and trailers, most cars and other vehicles do not have fire extinguishers.

Before continuing further, permit me to relate a true incident to all my readers. My late father was a lorry driver. During the Japanese occupation, he met an accident. His lorry overturned in an accident one fine day.

My father was pinned underneath his vehicle which caught fire. He was pulled out from the wreckage alive but sustained very serious burns to both his legs. He remained in hospital for over a year.

Ugly burn marks covered my dad’s legs after that. In fact, he was lucky to be alive.

What I am attempting to impress all readers is that, amongst all the emergencies a driver faces, fire which can very likely break out in a vehicle represents the biggest threat.

Believe it or not, only a fire extinguisher in your car can possibly save you. Think about this advice seriously. If you do not have a fire extinguisher in your car, your spouse’s vehicle or even your children’s cars, it is about time you contemplate equipping their vehicles with this important and life saving item.

You can earn all the money in the world, but as the saying goes, “you only but live once!”

Incidentally, my daughter’s, son’s and wife’s vehicles, all possess fire extinguishers in their cars. Why do I make it my responsibility to equip my family member’s vehicles with fire extinguishers?

Because I am a lecturer of the Kursus Pendidikan Pemandu (K.P.P.) course, which in fact is intended to prevent accidents.

What is a fire extinguisher?

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations.

In case you are unaware, all commercial vehicles, which are inspected once in 6 months by the Puspakom authorities, are required to have fire extinguishers. It is a mandatory requirement.

It is an extremely good move. Syabas and congratulations to the J.P.J. and Transport Authorities for implementing such a good and sound move!

It should in fact be extended to cover all vehicles and cars as well.

If the Jabatan Bomba can make all commercial centres, shops, offices and supermarkets adhere to the mandatory requirement to have these important life saving equipment in their premises, it is my opinion that cars and vehicles on roads can likewise be forced to do the same.

Some readers might disagree with my contention and suggestions. They might even say we can use water as a solution to fire extinguishers if a fire should break out in a vehicle.

It should be reminded that water would affect the wiring system of a vehicle. Furthermore, it causes dampness and rust will evolve. Thus, it is not a good alternative.

A fire which takes but a few minutes to engulf a vehicle will destroy a vehicle within minutes. The only item that can save the driver and passengers is but a fire extinguisher!

Think about it carefully. Hopefully, you’ll take this advice seriously. But unfortunately, and advice can only be given. To take it or otherwise, depends solely upon you and you alone, and no one else.