1.

INTRODUCTION:

Automobile which means vehicle can be very useful to human existence.

It is used for the conveyance of human, livestock and goods, as well as
very important for both private and public businesses.

Vehicle also has its hazardous effect on human existence which may
likely cause pains, emotional trauma, permanent disability, injuries and
death to both human-being and livestock.

One of these hazardous effects is fire.

The effects of fire can be very severe, leading to emotional trauma,
financial hardship, and tragic loss to workers and families.

Vehicular fire is one of the must dangerous hazardous events that could
happen to a man as risk taker, in effort to achieve some of his
achievements in life. Vehicular fire can lead to loss of both human and
material resources.

Therefore, in the context of this lecture, we are going to look at how

automobile fire can be caused, prevented and controlled in order to reduce
loss of lives and property in our society.
2. DEFINITION OF FIRE:
Fire is a rapid combination of two or more substances resulting in the production of
heat and light and sometimes smokes.
Before fire (combustion) can take place, three essential factors are necessary to be
present. They are: heat, oxygen, and fuel. The interaction of these three substances is
called triangle of combustion.

FUEL FIRE OXYGEN

HEAT

3. SOME COMMON CAUSES OF FIRE

The common causes of Fire are classified into three (3) ways namely:
(a). CARELESSNESS / IGNORANCE: This falls under the following -
Children playing with light or matches.
- Dry combustible material very close to fire places.
- Overloading of electrical circuit.
- Leaving lighted stove and gas cooker unattended to.
- Failure to switch off electrical equipment when not in use or at
the close of office work.
- Careless discarding of glowing cigarette end etc.
(b). ACCIDENT:
- Lightening & thunder.
- Plane crash.
- Motor accident.
- Friction from moving machines etc.
 (c). WILFUL ACT / ARSON: Falls under these are:
- People jealous of trade competition or benefactors of windfalls.
- Those that have or intending to defraud an insurance company
or a financial house.
- Intention to destroy evidence of serious crime.
- Frustrated persons such as those terminated from work etc.
- Vengeance seekers

4. CLASSES OF FIRE:
Fire can be classified under the following categories:
(a). CLASS ”A’ FIRE: These are fires involving solid combustible substances:
(Free burning materials) such as paper, wood, textile etc.
(b). CLASS ’B’ FIRE: These are fires involving liquid combustible substances.
Such as Diesel (AGO), Kerosene (DPK), Paint, Bitumen, Wax, Cooking oil, etc.
(c). CLASS ’C’ FIRE: These are fires involving domestic or industrial gases. Such
as Acetylene, Butane, Propane, Methane, Cooking gas. (LPG) etc.
(d). CLASS ‘D’ FIRE: Fire involving metals which could be in solid or powdered
form. Such as Sodium, Aluminium, Magnesium Copper etc.

5. FIRE EXTINCTION:
Fire extinction is the removal of one or more element of combustion. Fire
extinction can be done in three ways, namely:
- Smothering: Eliminating oxygen
- Cooling: Limitation of heat.
- Starvation: Removal of combustible material (fuel) from the neighbourhood
of fire.
6. TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER

There are different types of portable fire extinguishers, which are:

i. Water fire Extinguishers: These are fire extinguishers that expel water. Water
is one of the most commonly used extinguishing agents for class ‘A’ fire.
Water used in large quantities reduces the temperature and puts out the fire.
The steam generated also helps to smother the flames. It should not be used on
electrical equipments, because of possibility of electrocution.
Note: (a). Never use water to extinguish flammable liquid fire, because it is not
effective at extinguishing this types of fire and may make matter worse
by spreading the fire.
(b). Never use water to extinguish an electrical energised appliance,
because it is a good conductor and may lead to electrocution. Electrical
flow must be cut off or de-energized from electrical equipment before
the use of water.

ii. Foam fire extinguishers: These are fire extinguishers that expel chemical
foam. They are used for fighting classes “A and B’’ fires by smothering the
fire and preventing oxygen in the air from feeding the fire.
Note: Since both water and foam compound are conductive, they should not be
use on electrical equipment, because, there is possibility of electric stock
to the person operating the extinguisher

iii. Carbon-dioxide Fire Extinguishers: These are fire extinguishers that expel
CO2 gasses. They are used for fighting classes ‘’B and C’’ fires. It displaces
the air and stops the fire. Care must be taken in the use of CO2 fire
extinguisher; do not use in a confined space. They are safe to be use on
electrical equipment. The CO2 content is stored compressed gas in the
extinguisher and as it expands, it cools the surrounding air. The cooling will
 often cause ice particles to form around the ’HORN’ where the gas is expelled
from. Since fire could re-ignite, continue to apply the agent even after the fire
appears to be out, until heat is drastically reduced.
Note: Never use CO2 fire extinguishers in a confined space where people are
present without proper respiratory protection.

iv. Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) Fire Extinguishers: These types of fire
extinguisher expel powders which serve as a coat on burning substance. They
are known as multi-purpose fire extinguisher because of it’s effectiveness in all
the classes of fire. DCP fire extinguishers put out fire by coating the fuel with
thin layers of fire retardant powder, separating the fuel from the oxygen. The
powder also works to interrupt the chemical reaction, which makes these
extinguishers extremely effective.

7. FIRE PREVENTION/ PROTECTION.

Fire prevention entails precautionary activities aimed at stopping the outbreak of
fire, early detection and reducing loss of life and properties should a fire occur. It
embraces activities like educating the public, inspection, enforcement of safely rules
and regulations and reduction of fire hazards whenever possible.
While fire protection are active and structural means and measures put in place to
protect or fight fire when they occur, such as:-
- Installation of portable or fixed fire protection equipment.
- Installation of fire detectors like heat, smoke and radiation detector.
- Installation of dust, smoke and heat extraction system.
- Use of fire resistance material for building.
- Proper house keeping through compartmentation and segregation of
materials.
8. FIRE IN MOTOR VEHICLES:
Fire in a motor vehicle generally involves petrol and is, therefore, likely to increase
rapidly in intensity.

CAUSES OF AUTOMOBILE FIRE

Fires are generally caused in motor vehicle through the following areas.
i. back-fire through the carburettor.
ii. Electrical fault.
iii. Heat generated through friction in case of vehicles fitted with twin rear tyres.
Especially when one of the tyres is punctured and the vehicle continue on its
way.
iv. Spillage of highly combustible material such as petrol on hot bearings or close
to ignition source.

PREVENTION OF AUTOMOBILE FIRE.

The following should be maintain in order to prevent vehicular fire.
i. Avoid spillage of petrol on the body of the vehicle.
ii. Always check the electrical wiring system of your vehicle and make sure
there are no naked wires.
iii. Avoid managing faulty carburettor.
iv. Change punctured tyre(s) as soon as they occur.
v. Avoid vehicle coming in contact with any high ignition source such as
engulfed vehicle on fire or intense bush fire.
vi. Put off vehicle engine before they are refilled.

CONTROL OF AUTOMOBILE FIRE

The following points are important when fire eventually occurs.
a. Disconnect the battery as soon as possible, if chance and time permit you
to do so, before extinguishing any vehicular fire with a suitable fire
extinguisher.
b. Remove the vehicle if there is a danger of any fire spreading.
Alternatively, remove or protect its surroundings if such a course is
possible.
c. When the engine itself is on fire and running, and a petrol tap is fitted, the
tap should be turned off and the engine run until it empties the carburettor
and stops. (The tap is usually clearly marked on those types of vehicle to
which one is fitted). However, all cars are almost never fitted with taps,
and in this case, the engine should be switched off at once.
d. When the fire is under the bonnet, the carburettor could be the seat of the
fire, unless the fuel line is fractured. Insert the nozzle of a Dry Chemical
Powder (DCP) or Carbon dioxide (Co2) fire extinguisher and discharge the
content through any available aperture below the bonnet on the carburettor
 side but not through the front grille. If no aperture is available, lift the
bonnet slightly and discharge your fire extinguisher into the side of the
engine where the carburettor is located.
e. If a DCP fire extinguisher is not available, a foam fire extinguisher may be
used or the fire can probably be knocked out or smothered with a small
wet mat or rug. If nothing else is available, dry sand can be used.
f. When fires occur in other parts of a vehicle, e.g. tyres, enough water
should be applied immediately to cool it.
g. For fire involving electric wiring, the battery, which is generally either
under the bonnet or under the seats, should be disconnected as soon as
possible?

CONCLUSION.
From the study, we discussed about fire, common causes of fire, the various classes
of fire, fire extinction, and type of fire extinguishers, we also discussed on fire in
motor vehicle, the causes and how to prevent / control automobile fire.
The danger associated to Automobile fire can not be over emphasized as proper
cares need to be taken in order to reduce the risk attached to it. Fire accident could
be natural, spiritual or man made. The natural one can be controlled though cannot
be avoided but the one caused by man can be prevented and avoided while the
spiritual with proper care, dedication and prayer can be controlled through God’s
intervention.

God bless you as you keep on preventing the possibility of fire outbreaks in our
society.

Thank you.