Things to Do If Your Car Catches Fire

If your car catches fire, you can see flames coming out or smell smoke. You must know the fact that the fire doesn’t always come out of the car’s engine, rather, you can experience smoke or flames coming from under the car, next to the brakes, from inside the car, near the wheels, etc. In any of the cases, it is imperative to quickly act but remain calm.

Things You Should Do If Your Car Catches Fire

Here are the steps you need to follow if your car catches fire:

1. Stop the Car and Turn The Engine Off

Immediately give signals to other cars, pull over the car on the left, turn the engine off and take out the keys as soon as you see flames or smoke coming out of your car. This will cut off the fuel supply which will lower the risk of fire spread.

2. Evacuate the Car and Stand Away From the Car

Soon after turning off your car, vacate it and move away and stand at a safe distance to safeguard yourself from flames or toxic smoke. In case there is anyone with you in the car, ask them to come outside the car as well and provide assistance to women, children or the elderly to get out of the car. Also, open the hood of the car before leaving it. Ensure no bystander gets close to the car.

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3. Call The Traffic Police and Fire Brigade

Call up the traffic police and fire brigade at once and inform them about the incident. Provide them with the exact location of the spot to help them reach the earliest. Once you intimate the traffic police about the incident, they will mostly convey the fire brigade about the fire, but still, you should also take it up as your duty to inform the fire service yourself to avoid any delay.

4. Inform Your Insurance Company About the Fire

Call your car insurance company and intimate them about the fire incident as soon as possible. You should take your car to the network garage for repair once the fire is doused off. It is crucial to raise a car insurance claim with your insurer and get compensation for the car damages or losses caused due to the fire. You can get the claim intimation number on your insurance policy document or online.

5. Don’t Try to Douse the Fire or Retrieve Any Item from the Car

Don’t try to go or let anyone go towards the car to douse the fire or to retrieve any personal item, while the flames are coming out of your car. A burning car can explode anytime and can suffer from serious injuries. Even the toxic fumes coming out of the car are harmful. Always retrieve your personal items once the fire is put out by the firefighters and declare the car safe. Dousing the car fire on your own is also extremely dangerous as a small mistake can lead to the spread of fire.

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Conclusion

If your car catches fire, the most crucial element is to ensure the security and safety of the people in and around the car. You should follow the above-mentioned safety tips and let the cops and firefighters do their job. Following the above-given tips, you can get the car fire doused off and can get all your losses recovered at the earliest. 

Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.