How, why do vehicles in crashes catch fire?
- Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is reported to have been hospitalised after surviving a car crash on the Delhi-Dehradun highway.
- While it is too early to speculate on the reasons for the crash, initial agency reports quoting eyewitnesses seem to suggest that the fog on the highway could have been a factor.
Fire Triggers
- Leaks from the fuel tanks upon impact: with fuel lines being particularly susceptible to rupture if the accident was a severe one.
- Flammable materials apart from the fuel: including engine oil, brake oil, or lubricants, can ignite when exposed to just a spark or contact with really hot metal parts.
- Vehicle’s electrical system: Electrical system failures are triggered when the elaborate electrical wiring running along the length of the vehicle gets damaged in an accident.
- Defective airbags: exploding upon impact, triggering an onboard fire.
Pattern of the Fire
- Fuel tank-linked fires: typically start under a vehicle and spread upwards as leaking petrol or diesel ignites.
- Electrical fire: starts off inside the vehicle and then spreads downwards and outwards - offer less time for the occupants to escape without facing some degree of burns.