Cars, Trucks, Trailers, and Fire

What is summer without a road trip? Every year millions of people take to the road whether it is for vacation or work, summer is the time to travel. What many people don’t realize though is the number of wildland fires caused by vehicles during those prime travel months.

The National Fire Protection Agency reports that between the years of 2002-2005, highway-type vehicle fires accounted for 18% of all reported fires and 13% of U.S. civilian deaths. Three-quarters of highway vehicle fires resulted from mechanical or electrical failures or malfunctions.

There are many ignition sources on your vehicle including your trailer. Bearings that aren’t greased properly, dragging trailer chains, catalytic converters failing, older exhaust systems that build up carbon, flat tires, or the lack of performing regularly scheduled vehicle maintenance could all lead to a fire in the hot, dry months of summer. While maintaining your vehicle to its peak performance, it is also important to remember that a hot exhaust system could start a fire just by driving over or parking on dry grass.

Vehicle maintenance and awareness is crucial to preventing fires. For more information, contact the American Automobile Association at 1-800-AAA-HELP or visit the AAA Web site.

Vehicle Use Guidelines

Tips to remember before you hit the road.

  1. Maintain your vehicle and trailer. Perform regularly scheduled maintenance to help prevent mechanical breakdowns or failures. Have your vehicles inspected at least annually by a trained, professional technician.
  2. Check fluids. Brakes or transmissions that overheat due to the lack of fluids could shatter, casting off hot metal fragment.
  3. Watch for fluid leaks under vehicles, cracked or blistered hoses, or wiring that is loose, has exposed metal or has cracked insulation. Have any of these conditions inspected and repaired as soon as possible.
  4. Grease wheel bearings. Trailers that sit for long periods of time without use or boat trailers that are in and out of the water need more attention. Inspect before you role.
  5. Check tire pressure and wear to prevent blow-outs. Tires in good condition will also help increase your gas mileage, saving you time and money.
  6. Be alert to changes in the way your vehicle sounds when running, or to a visible plume of exhaust coming from the tailpipe. A louder than usual exhaust tone, smoke coming from the tailpipe or a backfiring exhaust could mean problems or damage to the high-temperature exhaust and emission control system on the vehicle. Have vehicles inspected and repaired as soon as possible if exhaust or emission control problems are suspected. Catalytic converters can break down over time throwing out hot ceramic particles or carbon that builds up in your system may eject particles reaching temperatures of 1,600 degrees F.
  7. Keep your vehicle aligned. A misaligned axle could cause your tire to ignition.
  8. Check trailer safety chains to make sure they are not hitting the ground. Dragging chains can throw sparks.
  9. Stay on designated roads and never park or drive over dry grass. The exterior of your exhaust system can reach temperatures up to 2800 degrees F. Also, vegetation could gather on top of your exhaust system causing it to ignite.
  10. Drive according to posted speed limits and other traffic rules. Remain alert to changing road conditions at all times.

Who is responsible?

Vehicle and trailer maintenance is the first step to preventing fires cause by mechanical breakdown or failure. Remember, you could be held liable for costs associated with a fire that was started by your car, truck, or trailer that has not been properly maintained.