Automotive fire safety

Today is the fifth anniversary of one of the deadliest fires in US history. On February 20, 2003, the Station Nightclub was destroyed by flames after pyrotechnics ignited insulation during a concert by the band Great White.

The fireworks were illegal. The flammable insulation installed by club owners Michael and Jeffrey Derderian was illegal. The club’s occupancy was set too high by West Warwick fire officials and illegally exceeded by club management. Fire protection systems that were required by law were not in place- nor did the owners carry the mandatory worker’s comp insurance for their employees.

The Derderians took several calculated risks as club owners. In their quest to save money, they installed foam sound insulation that Jeffrey Derderian himself once referred to as, “solid gasoline.” That and other cost-cutting measures contributed to a major disaster. Within three minutes of the start of the fire, the Station Nightclub was completely destroyed. The final toll left 100 dead and more than 270 people were injured.

Today, Rhode Island is considered to be the safest state in the US- with the most stringent fire codes. It comes much too late and at too high a cost. Those 100 dead were working-class folks- sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers. Many of the injured have been permanently disfigured in the prime of their lives.

For the sake of all who were involved on that tragic night, let’s not wait for disaster to make us aware of danger. With that in mind, here is part one in my series concerning car fire safety and prevention.

Please take the time to help those who continue to suffer because of the Station Fire. There has been no payment to the injured or to the widows, widowers, orphans and parents of the deceased. Traditionally, settlements from this type of disaster tend to be minute compared to legal and medical bills that have been growing for five years. Support the Station Family Fund

What to do in case of car fires

Car fire represents a real and often overlooked threat. People tend to underestimate the intensity of a car fire and place themselves in danger. A car fire may start in a situation that is already dangerous- either driving down a highway or stuck in traffic. Car fires pose a threat of spreading to surrounding structures- often the vehicle will be enclosed within a garage or other parking structure. There have even been major disasters involving car fires in tunnels.

In fact, one in every four fires is a car fire and one in every eight fire deaths are caused by car fires. Each year, car fires alone kill 550 people and injure 3,300 more. There are more than a quarter of a million car fires annually- and the number is rising. Here are some basic steps you and your passengers need to be aware of in the event of a car fire.

1. If you are in a moving vehicle, move into the right breakdown lane if possible. You want to be able to get out of the car safely- without having to worry about oncoming traffic. Don’t forget to use turn signals- getting into an accident in a burning car will not help anyone.
2. Once in the breakdown lane, or if you are stopped in traffic, stop the car and turn off the engine. This will stop the vehicle from pumping fuel onto the fire and it will disengage most electrical systems.
3. Get yourself and all passengers out of the vehicle as quickly as possible.
4. Get away from the car! Nothing you have in the car is worth being killed or disfigured over! Time and again, people will desperately try to salvage “important” items from the trunk or passenger compartments while the engine is burning. The risks are greater than you think!
5. Warn oncoming traffic and pedestrians and contact the fire department. Never attempt to put out the flames yourself!

It is imperative that you move away from a burning car because of the great number of dangers associated with it. The obvious (though unlikely) reason is the gas tank. It is rare, but a fire can cause a gas tank to explode. It is more likely that other parts of the car may potentially explode.

Tires may pop explosively, sending burning rubber through the air like napalm; the battery can explode with shrapnel and acid. The fire may cause air bags to deploy, injuring anyone in the way when they go off. Of course, there can be smaller explosions as well, throwing shrapnel, scalding oil and radiator fluid and burning plastic at anyone close by.

Flames may suddenly shoot upwards of ten feet from the car itself as combustible materials ignite. Along with the flames, oils, acids and burning gasoline comes a wide array of noxious fumes. Burning fluids, rubber, plastics and upholstery will unleash a toxic chemical cloud that will cause nearly instant lung damage. It is this toxic cloud that is responsible for most deaths. Another airborne threat is carbon monoxide- odorless, colorless and lethal. Meanwhile, the enclosed area of the vehicle can quickly reach temperatures over 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Do not attempt to put out a car fire with a fire extinguisher. To use the extinguisher, you must be close to the car- and many fire extinguishers commonly found in cars are too small to put out a car fire. All you end up doing is putting yourself in harms way in a futile attempt to stop the inevitable. Even firefighters in full gear and equipment will have difficulty putting out a car fire. Some models are even considered so dangerous that firemen will secure the area and allow the car to burn itself out if possible.

Coming up: I’ll look into the causes of car fires and how you can prevent them. I’ll be exploring the automotive industry’s response to the problem, from Pintos to present. Finally, I’ll explore Toyota’s role in fire safety today.