Car fires are extremely dangerous and scary. Even if you’ve never experienced one, you probably know how serious and terrifying it would be to get caught in that situation. Your Clermont Toyota team wants to make sure that you’re prepared in case of an emergency, so we’ve put together all the information and tips you need to be prepared to deal with and prevent this kind of serious car emergency.
There’s a fire in your car, what should you do?
As soon as you find yourself dealing with a car emergency such as a car fire, you should do the following.
Pull over!
Quickly find a safe place to pull your vehicle off the road. You don’t want to park somewhere dangerous, but it’s important to move quickly so just do the best you can.
Turn the car off!
You don’t want to ignite the flames further, and turning off the engine can help prevent this.
Get out of the car!
You and your passengers need to exit the vehicle as safely and quickly as possible. Make sure any children are helped out first, then get yourselves at least 100 feet away from the car. If the car explodes, this distance will protect you from injury.
Leave your belongings!
Things are replaceable, but you aren’t! You need to focus on getting yourselves and passengers out of the car, and don’t go back for any personal items. When cars catch fire, it’s very easy for them to explode from gas or oil at any moment so you want to be as far away as possible.
Don’t open the hood!
Popping the hood of the car can cause the flames to flare up more.
Call 911!
It’s important to get emergency responders out as quickly as possible to extinguish the fire and treat any injuries.
How can you prevent your car from catching fire?
Although a car emergency can be scary, there are things you can do for your Clermont Toyota to prevent car fires.
Stay on a routine car maintenance schedule and don’t put off any necessary repairs for your vehicle. Our Clermont auto care techs will always do a thorough job inspecting your Toyota for any issues that could cause a fire. If you avoid having your car serviced, you’re at a higher risk of experiencing a car emergency.
Make sure you always use the right car parts for your specific vehicle model when making modifications or repairs to your car. Your auto techs can always help walk you through the best and safest options.
It’s a bad idea to park in tall grass. If the grass touches the part of your car where it heats up (on the bottom), it can cause a fire - especially if the grass is dry.
If you can, try to avoid transporting gasoline in the interior of your vehicle. If it's necessary, only transport a small amount, tightly sealed. This is extremely dangerous and can definitely cause a fire.
Fire Hazards:
Here are some common fire hazards you should look out for.
Damaged wiring
Spilled oil or fuel
Fuses that have blown multiple times
Worn or loose hoses
A loose or missing oil cap
Smoke coming from your engine or brakes
Loud noises coming from your exhaust
Burning smell
Toyota of Clermont can help you prevent a car emergency.
Have more questions about car emergencies or think your car is at risk of one? Call Toyota of Clermont’s service center today. We’re open seven days a week at (352) 404-7001. And we’re conveniently located just west of the Florida Turnpike at 16851 State Road 50!
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