On Tuesday, Columbus Fire and Rescue responded to its fifth call about a vehicle fire this week.
Firefighters arrived at an auto repair shop to find a car emitting flames and heavy smoke. Crews extinguished the fire quickly, and no injuries were reported, a CFR press release said.
While there were varying causes of the vehicle fires this week, Chief Duane Hughes said the common denominator with most is a lack of proper maintenance.
“Two of (the fires) have been homeless individuals that were using vehicles as a means of residence and were trying to stay warm inside the vehicles,” he said. “The others were related to poor vehicle maintenance.”
Incidents like these can pick up this time of year, Hughes said, especially when there is an uptick in used car purchases.
“You probably see a little increase of that because individuals start buying more used cars around this time of year, and the cars are in various states of disrepair,” he said.
Hughes said the best way to avoid vehicle fires is to be proactive about maintenance and repairs, including keeping an eye out for any warning signs like smoke.
“If they’re experiencing mechanical issues, they need to have them repaired,” he said. “Keep an eye on the basics, such as fluid levels. If they smell any unusual odors, they need to stop operating the vehicle and investigate.”
Drivers can also keep themselves and their vehicles safe by regularly inspecting for leaks, frayed wires or other issues that could be a fire risk. Never smoke when refueling and always turn off the vehicle before pumping gas.
In the event of a vehicle fire, the driver should pull over, turn off the engine, exit the vehicle and maintain a safe distance while calling 911, the press release said.
“It all centers around proper maintenance, paying attention to any unusual odors and making sure that if anything is suspect, you stop operation of the vehicle immediately and investigate what’s going on,” Hughes said.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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