Car Parts and Accessories

Fire and panic often go together but a driver’s first duty is to get the passengers safely out and, if possible, drive the car away from other fire hazards.

Flames in the passenger compartment are not usually dangerous because, in the initial stages at least, they are away from fuel. One danger however comes from fumes given off by melting plastic trim.

Once the driver and passengers have left, keep the doors and windows closed until fire-fighting equipment is available. Any sort of draught fans the flames.

When the fire is in the engine compartment, keep the bonnet closed until proper equipment, or at least a bucket of sand, is available. As soon as the bonnet is opened, the upward draught will spread the fire.

Petrol or oil fires cannot be satisfactorily handled with water and should be attacked with a suitable extinguisher or sand. Aim first at the base of the flames, then work upwards. You need a cool head and a good aim. Keep spectactors away in case the fuel explodes.

It is wise to carry a fire extinguisher in the car — either in the boot or securely fixed inside the passenger compartment.

With a fire extinguisher, as with other safety devices (such as a motorcycle safety helmet), there is only one type worth buying — the best. Cheap or unsuitable extinguishers cannot be relied on and this defeats the purpose of having them.

Remember to adhere to the recharging schedule outlined on the extinguisher housing.

Frightening though they are, bushfires are rarely fatal to motorists. Only when the car occupants panic and try to out-run the flames are they likely to die.

One of the worst bushfire tragedies in Australia was in Victoria in 1969 when seventeen people died after fire had cut off a four-lane highway. All the victims had left their cars to try to escape the flames. Six others stayed in their cars and survived, even though one car was burned black as the fire raced past.

The main cause of death in a bushfire is extreme heatstroke, not suffocation. The secret of survival is to shield yourself from the radiated heat of the flames and this is best done by staying in the car.

An Australian expert on the subject, Mr N.P. Cheney, wrote that the ‘flaming period’ of a bushfire in any one spot lasts no more than three to four minutes. If a person can survive that, there is little risk of being killed. The interior of the car, with the doors and windows closed, offers good protection from heat during this critical period. Contrary to popular belief, there is little chance of the petrol tank catching fire or exploding. Numerous experiments have confirmed this fact, yet fear of an exploding petrol tank is one of the main reasons why some people abandon their cars in a bushfire.

Without doubt, motorists should stay within their vehicles unless they can see a water reservoir or similar haven which they can safely reach before the flames arrive.

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