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In 2005 alone, there were more than 266,000 car fires reported to various agencies across the country. In these accidents, 520 people died as a result of the fire. Automobile fires are one of the more common causes of fire-related property damage. In fact, there is one motor-vehicle fire roughly every minute and a half in the United States alone.
Cars have a tendency to ignite as there are so many things that are flammable. For starters, gasoline and oil are exceptionally flammable and are known to ignite. Upholstery and other solid combustibles are commonly the start of a fire as well. The detonators in air bags, electrical short circuits, and a hot exhaust system can all be sources of ignition.
The batteries in cars present special hazards all on their own. In the electrolysis process, hydrogen gas is created. This gas ignites easily whenever a spark is present. When that happens, the battery can explode, releasing battery acid everywhere. Hybrid and electric cars, as great as they are for gas conservation, can have faulty wiring. This wiring can cause electrocution or a fire quite easily.
In fires that are not caused by arson, the bulk of the fire is typically contained, at least initially, within the engine compartment of the vehicle. The passenger compartments of most cars are protected by a fire wall which is designed to prevent fire from spreading into the passenger compartment.
Should a car happen to ignite, it is very important to stop the car and get out of the vehicle. Once everyone is out of the vehicle, do not let anyone go back to the car. Even bystanders who think they are helping should not be permitted to go near the car. In addition to staying away, no one should attempt to put the fire out on his or her own. This is due to the heat and toxic fumes coming from the vehicle. In auto fire deaths, the number one cause of death is inhalation of toxic fumes.
Whenever a vehicle is on fire, opening the hood of the car is never a good idea. Fire loves oxygen. It needs oxygen to live. With the majority of a fire being contained in the engine compartment on most cars, opening the hood will give the fire a large amount of oxygen at once. This has the potential to increase the intensity of the fire immediately.
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Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Automobile-Fires&id=1252486
