During summer, there are intense heat waves across the UAE. This heat is damaging and harmful to the vehicles. It is, therefore, crucial to take care of its maintenance and its servicing to control any fuel or oil leaks that can cause your car to catch fire. These car accidents can even be fatal. Therefore, timely maintenance of fuel and electrical faults is important.        

Not following the vehicle guidelines can lead to fire accidents. Car owners should know what could happen to their vehicles during high temperatures. It is important to check the car’s engines regularly and maintain the vehicles to prevent fire accidents on the road.

Proper investigation tells that such accidents are caused due to improper maintenance of electrical systems, illegal modifications in the vehicle, smoking inside the car, etc. It may also happen that vehicles catch fire due to the impact on the fuel tank during an accident. As soon as the engine triggers the electrical spark, the fuel tank ignites and catches a severe fire.

Safety measures to follow to prevent the car fire

Following safety measures and car maintenance can prevent car fires. Whether you own a car or are planning to rent a car in Dubai, make sure you get it from a reliable car rental company or through a car rental app.

When a car is well maintained, it mitigates the chances of catching fire. However, there have also been instances where well-maintained cars catch fire. Therefore, it is mandatory to keep checking water and temperature levels, securing the fuel cap tightly to prevent leakage, and turning off the engine when filling gas at petrol stations, etc.

Some of the safety measures you can follow are listed below.

1. Do not panic. If you are driving a car and your car catches fire, you should first turn the hazard lights and stop at a safe location.
2. Turn off the engine immediately and make sure that everyone is out of the car at the earliest.
3. Contact the police or Dubai Civil Defense at 997 and inform them of your location.
4. If you have a fire extinguisher in your car, locate the fire’s origin and spray the extinguisher through the area. The extinguisher should be spread in the direction of the wind. This will protect you from inhaling the toxic fumes and minimizes the chances of getting burnt.

The severity of electrical hazards increases when unqualified people make electrical connections or new additions in the cars like installing additional headlights, etc., increasing the electrical circuits’ load. Therefore, it is important to keep checking the car for water shortage in the radiators, faults in the electrical wires, a rupture in the exhaust pipe, leakage of petrol, etc.

If you plan to visit Dubai as a tourist, One Click Drive make sure that the car you rent is from a good and credible car rental company or through a reputed platform.

What are some of the reasons for fires in cars?

1. Impunctuality to the service schedule: You should take your car to the service station regularly. Choose reliable and company-provided stations for car maintenance.
2. Smoking in cars: Smoking is dangerous to health and a major cause of fire. Ashes or the spark from the cigarette can burn the car’s upholstery and result in a fire.
3. Storing combustible materials in the car: Storing combustible materials like a pressurized can of deodorant or anything that can easily explode due to rising temperature inside the car when parked under the sun. This will ultimately cause a fire.
4. Unnecessary accessorizing: It is advised not to accessorize your car by unprofessional technicians unnecessarily. Meddling with the electronic parts can cause a short circuit under the hood and thus fire.
5. Burning smell: Be aware of any burning smell. If you get any pungent burning smell inside your car, it could mean an initial burn. An early step could prevent a disaster.

Whether you rent or buy a car, ensure that the vehicle is regularly and properly maintained. Petrol is flammable, and there is a possibility of its leakage into the car’s engine. This increases the risk of fire.

Sometimes people also go for a conversion from liquid fuel to gas. It is of paramount importance to make sure it is done via a government-approved shop. However, in case the car catches fire one should not start collecting their belongings. Abandon the vehicle and take whatever you have. Remember your safety is priority.

However, when cars are properly maintained, these risks are averted. It is also crucial that the drivers are not distracted during driving as it can lead to accidents which are also one of the causes of car fires.

If you plan a trip to Dubai or rent a car while staying in Dubai, contact a car rental service in Dubai to avail the best offers.