U.S. Fire Administration

TOPICAL FIRE RESEARCH SERIES

Volume 2, Issue 4

July 2001 (Rev. March 2002) 

Highway Vehicle Fires

FINDINGS

S One in every four fire department responses is to a vehicle fire. This

does not include the tens of thousands of responses to vehicle accident sites.

S Mechanical or design problems are the leading cause of vehicle fires.

S Electrical wiring and fuel are the leading forms of material ignited in

vehicle fires.

S Fires following a collision are the leading cause of vehicle deaths.

S Mechanical and design failures are the leading cause of vehicle injuries, many of which were due to the victim’s attempt to control the fire.

Sources: NFPA and NFIRS

From 1996 to 1998, there were an estimated annual average of 377,000 highway

vehicle (automobiles, vans, trucks) fires. (Highway vehicle fires represent more than

96% of all mobile property fires.) Each year, these fires resulted in an average of approximately 515 deaths, 3,000 injuries, and $1.1 billion in property loss.

1

This report addresses the characteristics of 1998 highway vehicle fires. Data are

from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Figure 1 compares losses

from vehicle fires with those of all reported fires averaged over a 3-year period

(1996–98).

Figure 1. Loss Measures for Vehicle Fires

(3-year average, NFIRS data 1996–98))

HIGHWAY

MEASURE ALL FIRES VEHICLE FIRES

Dollar Loss/Fire $11,271 $3,166

Injuries/1,000 Fires 48.0 5.0

Fatalities/1,000 Fires 7.7 1.6

Source: NFIRS only
In 1998, nearly one-quarter of all fire department responses were to vehicle fires—

more than the responses to residential properties. Two-thirds of these fires are the result

of mechanical or design problems (Figure 2), such as broken fuel lines, faulty catalytic

converters, electrical failures, blown tires, and overheating.

Design,

Construction,

Installation

Deficiency (3%)

Mechanical Failure,

Malfunction (66%)

Incendiary/Suspicious

(18%)

Misuse of Heat

(carelessness) (8%)

Operational

Deficiency (4%)

Source: NFIRS only

Figure 2. Causes of Highway Vehicle Fires (1998)

Arson is the second leading cause of vehicle fires at 18%. Many automobile fires are

not investigated for possible arson, although some insurance companies privately investigate obvious cases. Arson fires reported to NFIRS, therefore, may be undercounted.

Carelessness (human act) accounts for 8% of highway vehicle fires. Examples of

carelessness include cigarettes dropped on the upholstery; distractions while driving, such

as eating or cell phone use; parking over dry leaves with a hot catalytic converter; and

misuse of flammable liquids, especially gasoline, while servicing or maintaining the car.

Figure 3 shows that electrical wiring is the leading form of material ignited (30%),

followed by fuel (29%).

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Electrical Wire

Fuel

Upholstered Seats

Gas/Liquid*

Tire

Percent

Figure 3. Form of Material Ignited in

Highway Vehicle Fires (1998)

*Gas or flammable liquid in a pipe or container Source: NFIRS only
Most highway vehicle fire deaths (64%) are the result of a collision. Determining the

cause of death following a collision, however, is often difficult. Was the death the direct

result of the collision or the fire that ensued? A fire fatality should be counted only if a

person was trapped and killed by the fire, rather than killed on impact and subsequently

exposed to the fire.

The contributing factor (or condition preventing escape) in 68% of vehcile fire

deaths was either rapid fire progression (51%) or that the victim was incapacitated prior

to ignition (16%).

Collisions are only the third leading ignition factor for injuries. The leading factor is

mechanical/design failures (43%). Carelessness (or human act) accounts for 30% of highway vehicle injuries.

Forty-five percent of persons injured in a vehicle fire were injured while attempting

to control the fire. An additional 21% were injured trying to escape the blaze. A fraction

(11%) of the injured were incapacitated prior to ignition.

EXAMPLES

S A minivan caught fire after an explosion inside the vehicle. Gas leaked from a

propane tank that had just been filled, and the driver lit a cigarette.

2

S In Howell Township, New Jersey, a tow truck was winching a 1992 Isuzu Rodeo

onto ints flatbed. The Isuzu had a fuel leak that caught fire from the friction. The

Isuzu caught fire and was a total loss.

3

S A pickup pulled into high weeds. The hot catalytic converter started a fire in the

weeds that quickly engulfed the car. Two babies in car seats were trapped inside, but

were rescued by firefighters.

4

For further information, contact your local fire department or the USFA.

NOTES:

1. Since Highway Vehicles is a major property class, the national estimates are based only on the

National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) annual survey, Fire Loss in the United States.

2. Firehouse Magazine, September 1998.

3. Freewood Acres Fire Company Incident Report, February 2000.

4. “Fireworks Keep Texas Firefighters Busy,” Firehouse Magazine, July 2000.

CLICK TO REVIEW THE DETAILED METHODOLOOGY USED IN THIS ANALYSIS

CLICK TO SEE ALL THE REPORTS IN THIS TOPICAL FIRE RESEARCH SERIES