Tips when your car is on fire – FRSC

”An automobile can start to burn because of so many things such as from electrical sparks, faulty wiring, overheating etc

1. In most cases the fire usually starts from the engine compartment
2. As soon as an automobile fire is discovered, switch off and safely discharge the passengers.
3. Reach out for your fire extinguisher, open the bonnet gently and discharge fire extinguisher directed to the base of the fire
4. The battery terminals may be disconnected to avoid more sparks

A jet of water may be necessary for passenger compartment fire. Also, the cooling of the tank with water spray may be necessary to prevent busting. All moving vehicles should be stopped and made to switch off the engine

* All vehicles should park within reasonable distance from the leaking tanker

* Allow only vehicles with spark arrestor fixed to their exhaust pipe to move across

* Discourage/stop everybody within the vicinity from smoking Contact fire Brigade as soon as possible

* Apply foam object spray or sand to dissolve the already leaded fuel. Improvise and stop the leaking.

* If the petrol tanker is on fire, clear people from the vicinity and call fire Brigade. Don’t fire the fire leave it for the experts”.

Classes of fire:

For easy identification and extinction purpose, fire is classified into four categories and they are

Class A
Fire involving free burning materials like wood, paper, textiles, etc WATER is the best extinguisher agent in form object or spray.

Class B
Fire involving flammable substances like petrol, paint grease, etc, fall under class B fire, Fire under this category could best be extinguished with LIQUID FOAM extinguisher.

Dry chemical powder, Carbon oxide extinguisher and dry sand are also good materials that can put off class B fire.

Class C
Fire involving combustible gases or liquefied petroleum like propane, Butane, etc. They can best be extinguished with Dry chemical powder and Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers; water in spray form could be used to cool down the cylinder

Class D
Fire involving metals, e.g Potassium, Aluminum, Magnesium, Zink, etc. They can best be extinguished with Dry Chemical Powder fire extinguisher or Dry sand.