769 vehicles caught fire in Oman in 2019

 In summer with high temperatures in most governorates of the Sultanate, vehicle fires increase significantly, which may result in human losses and material damage to the vehicle, the Public Authority of Civil Defense and Ambulance (PACDA) said.

A statement issued online by PACDA stated: “According to the statistics of the Public Authority of Civil Defense and Ambulance, the number of vehicles which caught fire in 2019 was 769, compared to 840 fires in 2018.”

The statement pointed out that: "This can be avoided by ensuring regular vehicle maintenance and replacing damaged parts with new ones, especially those related to the engine.”

The statement explained: "Failure to treat vehicle leaks such as fuel, oil or water coolant leaks in the engine, maintenance of electrical parts by unqualified people and adding new electrical connections in ways that may lead to fire, and lack of compliance with periodic maintenance for the vehicle, and not checking the level of the engine coolant is the main reasons for fires.”

“There are other reasons that may lead to vehicle fire such as smoking, leaving the engine in the operating position while filling fuel, and leaving flammable materials in the vehicle such as perfumes, sterilizers, lighters, and others," the statement added.

The statement said also: "The Public Authority of Civil Defense and Ambulance reminds the drivers of the vehicles to ensure regular maintenance of the vehicle and not to continue driving when the engine temperature rises, not to stop the vehicle near electric generators, and to adhere to safety procedures when refueling like stopping the engine, not smoking, not using a mobile phone and other safety aspects."

What to do if your vehicle breaks down in the afternoon?

The Public Authority for Civil Defense and Ambulance must be called to avoid standing under the sun so that you do not suffer from fatigue.

When a fire breaks out in the vehicle, the driver must stop and exit from the vehicle and try to extinguish the fire using the manual fire extinguisher before the fire exacerbates. The drives must also disconnect the battery.

"Contact (9999) or (24343666) for emergencies," PACDA said

“The Public Authority of Civil Defense and Ambulance calls on everyone not to take leave children alone in the vehicle while shopping,” PACDA added