There are various incidents of commercial trucks catching fire. Truck fires have turned out to be quite common. Truck fires have affected numerous lives and properties over the years. Usually, truck fires are direct consequences of accidents. Such fire situations get aggravated because of the fuel of the vehicles involved in the accident.
Truck fire usually gets more intense owing to a variety of conditions. Some of these include the supply of oxygen, the propagation of fire and so on. Primarily, it depends on the ignition temperature of the material.
There are various causes of truck fires. Let’s take a look at some of these causes here.
Electrical Wiring
One of the most common causes of truck fire is short-circuit. This is caused by the failure of the electrical insulation of the electrical components of the truck. With time, the wiring in the truck starts to wear out and tear. As a result, some of the wires start to thin and some get cracked. This happens irrespective of the fact that manufacturers ensure safe wiring of a truck.
Additionally, the starter motor terminals of a truck are usually uncovered. As a result, if any tool is dropped against them accidentally, it could result in a short circuit.
Trucks are usually required to haul heavy cargo from one destination to the other under hot conditions. This heats up the electrical system of the truck. This can lead to a fire. Sometimes, the wiring design may be inappropriate, which can worsen the situation.
Adding Aftermarket Components
The wiring configuration of the electrical components of the truck may be different from the ones of the aftermarket components. This means that replacing any component would require the original wiring of the truck to be stretched beyond its configuration. As a result, adding aftermarket electrical components will exert extra stress on the wiring of the truck. This can be a major threat to the insulation of the wiring.
If the insulation of the wiring is compromised and it comes in contact with a metal that has a low ignition temperature, it can result in a fire quickly.
Some of the add-on electrical components for trucks may require holes to be drilled for the wires. The rubber casing of the wires may get eroded with time. This brings the wiring in direct contact with metal, thus resulting in a fire. Even the heat from a simple torch can cause certain components of the truck to catch fire.
Turbo Charger
Turbo charger oil seals may fail, thus causing the oil to spill into the exhaust. This may cause internal fires and a spike in the temperature. While the fires occurring within the turbo charger are usually restrictive, some fires may spread to the air-intake side of the truck. Consequently, the fire may spread to the engine compartment of the truck.
If the oil hose or the fuel line of the truck malfunctions, oil may get squirted into the exhaust or the turbo charger. This can result in a fire. Additionally, gaps in the exhaust pipes may cause the gases to escape and come in contact with combustible materials.
Fires Related to the Tire
Overworked tires can get hot enough to catch fire. A poorly inflated tire can be the cause of a fire. Apart from that, tires rubbing against chassis, guards or other tires can result in a fire. Additionally, wires that are not tied back properly may come in contact with a heated tire and start a fire. This fire can be extremely difficult to put out.
Overheated brakes can indirectly cause a tire fire by causing the rubber of the tire to get softened resulting in bead failures. An extremely hot drum can ignite the tires.
Fire Caused by Road Debris
The truck tires and axles come in contact with various kinds of materials on the road. Some of these may get lodged in these components. Some of these materials may be combustible. As the truck moves, these materials may cause a spark as they come in constant contact with the road. This can result in a fire.
Truck fires are quite common nowadays, If you live in Texas, you are already aware of the various incidents of Texas truck fire. Therefore, it is extremely important to be cautious while driving. Also, following a vehicle maintenance plan is vital to identify and eliminate any cause of fire. It is also wise to keep a fire extinguisher handy to put out a fire.
This content has been written by Katie Smith for Lerablog on behalf of http://firesafetyconsultant.com
