Approximately one in eight fires in the United States is a highway vehicle fire. That figure does not include the many accident fires that go unreported or are categorized differently. The National Fire Protection Association reported that between 2014 and 2016, the US averaged 171,500 vehicle fires per year, fires that resulted in 345 deaths, 1,300 injuries, and represented 13 percent of all fires reported annually.
45 percent of those fires were caused by mechanical failure.
What causes a vehicle to catch fire
The engine and exhaust system operate at temperatures high enough to ignite many common automotive fluids. When oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, or fuel leaks onto a hot surface, it creates a fire risk. The leak does not need to be large.
Exposed or worn wiring is another leading cause. A spark from damaged insulation near a fluid leak or other accelerant can be enough to start a fire. Modern vehicles have extensive wiring routed throughout the engine compartment, and that wiring can be damaged by age, heat, rodent activity, or collision impact.
Vehicle fires caused by collisions do occur and are responsible for a higher share of fire deaths relative to their frequency, likely because collision damage can compromise fuel lines and wiring simultaneously and because the occupants may be unable to exit quickly. But most fires, the mechanical failure category, happen independently of any accident.
What this means for your vehicle
The practical takeaway from these numbers is that most vehicle fires are preventable. Keeping up with fluid leak repairs, having the electrical system inspected when warning signs appear, and regular maintenance inspections give a shop the opportunity to identify fire risks before they become emergencies.
If you do not drive many miles per year, that is not a reason to skip inspections. A vehicle sitting in a garage can develop leaks from degraded hoses, seals, and connections just from age and temperature cycles.
If a fire does start
If your vehicle begins smoking, smells hot, or you see any flames:
- Pull over immediately and turn off the engine
- Get everyone out of the vehicle and move well away from it
- Do not open the hood if there is smoke or flames. The oxygen surge makes it worse.
- Call 911 and do not attempt to fight the fire yourself
One in three vehicle fire injuries involves someone attempting to fight the fire without trained emergency responders. The vehicle is replaceable. Happy motoring.