As the owner of a new vehicle, you plan to be especially careful to keep the SUV in pristine condition. You aren't mechanically inclined, which means you have to be more careful than most to compensate for your lack of auto-body experience.
If things do go wrong, it's nice to know that an emergency tow is there when you need it. While you're sure to be careful to avoid a collision on the road, you might be surprised to know that you can run into trouble even when your car is turned off.
Did you know that 10 percent of the fires reported in the U.S. each year are vehicle fires? Indeed, there are about 20 vehicle fires in the U.S. every hour.
One place where those fires can occur is at the gas station when you're filling up your tank. When a vehicle fire occurs, tires blow, windows break and the vehicle involved will no doubt need an emergency tow. To decrease the chance of a fire next time you're filling up, follow these steps.
1. Gas Guzzler
Don't count on the fuel pump to automatically stop when your tank is full no matter how technologically smart your fueling station may be. If there is some malfunction and the fuel continues to flow to the point where your tank is overflowing, you are putting yourself and others in danger. If the overflowing fuel happens to come in contact with a heated exhaust pipe, the combination could be enough to spark a flame.
2. Static Electricity
When you were a kid, static electricity was fun. You could rub a plastic balloon on your head and watch it stick to the plaster wall. That same static electricity can harm you and start a vehicle fire at the gas station.
If you are the person filling the tank, do yourself a favor. Once you've inserted the pump into your fuel tank, don't abandon the situation and go back inside your car to relax for a few minutes. This is the most common way for static electricity to form from an imbalance between protons and electronics in materials such as your clothing or the cushion seat. If you do hop inside your vehicle and immediately touch is the gas pump, static electricity could start a fire.
If you insist on waiting in your vehicle while the fuel is pumping, place both hands on the metal car door before touching the pump to reduce the chance of a static electricity fire.
Conclusion
Should your car ever catch on fire at the gas station, leave the pump alone and call the attendant for help. Once the fire has been doused, it's time to call an emergency towing service. To learn more, contact a company like Superior Towing with any questions you have.
Share11 February 2015
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