two,411 car fire incidents in 3 years: PACDA

Muscat – 

The Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulances (PACDA) doused two,411 car fires in 3 years. A PACDA official mentioned, “Of the 2,411 cases, 715 vehicles caught fire in 2015, 802 in 2016 and 894 in 2017.”

One of the primary causes of fire was neglecting periodical upkeep of automobiles, he mentioned. “The other reasons include driving for long hours without a break, leakage of oil and fuel, increasing electrical load and pressure on engine by adding equipment, and smoking inside vehicles.”

The official mentioned that owners want to adopt straightforward measures to safeguard their automobiles from fire. “These include periodic vehicle maintenance, pulling over if the engine is overheated and not parking or stopping near generators or flammable materials.”

He mentioned that some of the other security measures are turning off the engine and mobile phones when refuelling, maintaining fire extinguishers, utilizing only original spare components – particularly radiators – and acquiring automobiles repaired only at licensed workshops. “In case the vehicle catches fire, stop immediately. Evacuate passengers and try dousing the fire using an extinguisher. Disconnect the battery if possible to prevent further spread. If nothing works, contact the emergency service on 9999 or 24343666.”

Information Source: Muscat Daily