How many car fires is too many?
At about 5.10am this morning, Monday, April 8, police officers found a car on fire at Naughtons Gap Road, Casino.
They called the firefighters to extinguish the blaze.
Then at 5.40 this morning, Mallanganee RFS was called to a car fire on the eastern side of the Mallanganee range.
When the crew arrived, a tray back ute was alight. The driver and his dog were out of the ute and were unhurt.
Mummulgum RFS assisted in putting the fire out.
At 9am on Sunday morning, another car was on fire on Woodburn Coraki Road, Coraki.
Fire Safety Support said there were many reasons a car might catch fire.
It could be a car’s fuel system – it may have a leak or other malfunction that allows fuel to come into contact with heat or sparks.
It could be an electrical issue such as a short circuit or malfunctioning wiring that generates heat or sparks that ignite flammable materials and cause a fire.
It could be an exhaust system problem.
If a fire starts in your car, safely pull over to the side of the road and turn off the engine.
If it is a small fire, and you have a fire extinguisher aim the nozzle of the extinguisher at the base of the flames and use a sweeping motion to cover the entire area.
If the fire is too large to be extinguished with a fire extinguisher, or if you do not have one, call Triple Zero.
Stay a safe distance away from the car,
Are more cars catching fire?
An RFS spokesperson said between October 1, 2023 and 31 March 31, 2024, RFS crews responded to 1,134 motor vehicle fires.
Almost 30% of these fires were deemed to be due to mechanical fault.