837 vehicle fires in Oman last year

837 vehicle fires were recorded by the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) last year, according to official statistics. It is a drop of 57 over the previous year’s number.

PACDA said 894 vehicle fire incidents were reported in 2017. In 2016, only 802 cases were reported.

In an online statement, the authority said, “Vehicle fires increase significantly in summer which often results in human and material losses, although this can be avoided through attentive care to maintain the vehicle and replace damaged parts with new and high-quality ones. This is especially the case with the main parts of the engine."

“The causes of vehicle fires are due to a number of factors, such as negligence and lack of maintaining vehicles. Engine coolers are often not checked to ensure they have sufficient water and devices are installed that put pressure on the engine or the car’s electrical power outlets. Those sorts of devices are usually not suitable for the type of car they have been installed in as well as the high temperatures it will encounter on the roads.”