Car on fire? Turn off the engine and run

Photo: Courtesy of Fire and Rescue Department

PETALING JAYA: If you’re in a moving vehicle and it catches fire, the situation can turn from just smoke to life-threatening in less than two minutes.

In these situations, the priority must always be safety, not property conservation, says the Fire and Rescue Department.

“At the first sign of smoke or a burning smell, signal and move the vehicle to the emergency lane or road shoulder.

“Avoid parking near dry grass or other parked cars,” said department director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad.

“Turn off the ignition immediately as this shuts off the electric fuel pump, preventing more fuel from being sprayed onto a potential engine fire,” he said.

Nor Hisham said evacuation must be done immediately without lingering to gather personal belongings.

“Quickly move at least 30m to 50m away.

“Call 999 immediately and inform the operator of your exact location. If on a highway, check the kilometre markers on the rails for an accurate location,” he said.

All private vehicles, he said, are encouraged to have a 1kg or 2kg Sirim-certified dry powder extinguisher in them.

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“Secure it in a bracket as loose extinguishers can become projectiles in a crash,” he said.

Safety advocates also cautioned against leaving power banks, lithium batteries, water bottles and lighters unattended in the vehicle, even for short periods as they can cause fires.

“Keeping them in the glove compartment or the boot risks the possibility of forgetting they are there.

“You may think that it’s just for a short while, but you never know what can happen. You also will not know how temperatures can rise in vehicles,” said Road Safety Marshal Club president K. Balasupra­ma­niam.

He said vehicle modifications, especially those related to wiring, should only be done by licensed professionals.

“It’s best to service the vehicle or send it for repairs at official centres as those outside may not be as savvy or follow the required standard operating procedures.”

Another simple tip is to ensure that the vehicle is parked away from areas that can pose a risk of fire, such as bushes, storerooms or fireworks stalls.

“It is also advisable to have safety tools such as a safety hammer so you can smash the windows to escape in case you are trapped,” he said.

Balasupra­ma­niam said motorists should also refrain from smoking while driving.

“You never know what sort of gases can accumulate in a vehicle,” he said.