There might be few things as shocking to you as you’re driving along to find that your car catches fire. If that should happen, it’s important that you keep your wits about you and make sure that everyone in the car is safe. Taking your car to Village Autoworks can help you to figure out where that hot smell is coming from if you’re concerned that your car might be at risk of fire.
Exit the Road Safely, if You’re Driving
If you’re driving, a fire is particularly dangerous. The best thing to do is to signal that you’re getting off the road and then find a safe spot to exit traffic. You need to come to a complete stop before you do anything else, so make sure that you’re completely off the road and then stop and put the car in park.
Turn Off the Engine
There’s not a lot that you can really do in this situation on your own, but once you’ve got the car stopped, make sure that you turn the ignition off before exiting the vehicle. Turning off the engine can help to ensure that if part of what’s keeping the fire going is that the engine is on, you’re doing as much as you can to reduce whatever is feeding the fire.
Get Out of the Car
As soon as the car is safely stopped, in park, and turned off, everyone in the car needs to get out. Make sure that you get yourself out of the car first and then help anyone inside who might need some assistance. It’s important to hurry, but do try to be as careful as possible so that you don’t injure yourself or anyone else while you’re getting out of the car. Don’t try to grab personal items. The goal is to get safely away from the car.
Call 911
Once everyone is out of the car, it’s time to get help on the way. You may find that bystanders have already called 911 on your behalf. Go ahead and call, though, just in case. Make sure that you let the dispatcher know where you’re located and that your vehicle is on fire. Let the dispatcher know if anyone is injured, as well, so that emergency services can also include paramedics.
If your car has been showing signs that it might be a fire hazard, Village Autoworks in Roseville, MN, can help you to rule out potential problems. Call our shop and we can trace any fire hazards before they become an actual fire.