Did You Know?

Vehicle Fire Facts That May Surprise You

Vehicle Fire Risks:

• More than 266,000 highway vehicle fires occurred in 2004, causing nearly $1 billion in property loss, cites the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
• Between 1999-2002, passenger cars accounted for 80 percent of the nearly 270,000 highway vehicle fires. (NFPA)
• Most vehicle fires occur in June, July and August. (NFPA)
• On average, vehicle fires occur once every two minutes. (NFPA)
• In 2004, more people died from highway vehicle fires than from apartment fires. (NFPA)

Recognizing a Vehicle Fire:

• Mechanical or electrical failures cause more than two-thirds (71 percent) of highway vehicle fires, and 66 percent begin in the engine, running gear or wheel area. (NFPA)
• According to consumer affairs Web sites, many automobile owners who experienced mechanical-related vehicle fires initially smelled a strange odor then witnessed smoke filtering from under the hood or wheel area.
• Once flames occur in the engine, it takes an average of four minutes for the fire to reach the passenger compartment, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Drive Time and Road Rules:

• On average, Americans commute 52 minutes to and from work. That equals nine days a year spent in the car, not counting road trips or vacations. (ABC News Poll)
• All commercial vehicles must have at least one UL-rated 5-B:C extinguisher, or a 10-B:C if carrying hazardous materials. (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
• Automobiles are involved in 12 times as many fires as commercial freight trucks and result in larger numbers of casualties and a larger dollar loss. (U.S. Fire Administration) However, the U.S. Department of Transportation does not require fire extinguishers in passenger cars.

###