Toyota of N Charlotte’s car emergency guide for vehicle fires

Toyota of N Charlotte’s car emergency guide for vehicle fires

Whether it’s mercury in retrograde or life happening – car emergencies occur at the most inconvenient times. You need to be well prepared on how to handle a car emergency situation. If you’ve ever experienced anything like a car fire, or even a car fire itself, you know how scary it can actually be. All the emotions running through you: confusion, worry, panic, anger, relief, stress. Toyota of N Charlotte experts want to help alleviate all those emotions and give you the best, possible, experience on how to deal with a car fire and how to prevent this roadside emergency. 

How should you react when there’s a fire in your car?

If you ever find yourself stuck in this roadside car emergency, here are the steps you should take.

Step #1: 

Pull over immediately. Find a safe place to park that’s not in the way of oncoming traffic, but make sure that you and your passengers escape the car as quickly as possible. Time is in a crunch and you want to get out of there as fast as possible. Remember, your life is the most important thing that matters.

Step #2: 

Turn off your Toyota. This will help to prevent further ignition and more flames. 

Step #3: 

Get everyone out of the car. Just like airplanes, you have to put on your oxygen mask first. So, once you’re okay, next help the smaller passengers so they can move quickly. After that, you can get everyone to a safe spot that’s far apart from the vehicle. Do this so you can prevent anything from happening, especially if your N Charlotte Toyota explodes.

Step #4: 

Do not go back for your personal belongings. Again, when you have a car emergency the only thing you should focus on is the most precious thing on the planet: your life. So, don’t go back to the car keys or wallets, it’s not worth risking your life.

Step #5: 

Do not open the hood of the car – this can cause flames to flare up.

Step #6: 

Call 911. You need emergency personnel at the site to treat injuries and safely put out the fire.

You’re set to deal with this car emergency now, but how can you take steps to prevent a car fire from happening in the first place? Here’s what the experts at Toyota of N Charlotte have to say about preventing this car emergency.

1. Keep up with your scheduled routine maintenance and be sure to take care of repairs as fast as you can. This will allow our Charlotte Toyota service experts to inspect your car routinely and look for any developing issues or problems that could be a fire risk or cause any other car emergency.

2. When you’re replacing parts or making modifications, make sure you use the right parts and accessories. Our Charlotte auto parts and service experts can guide you in this arena.

3. Avoid parking in tall grass. If the grass is dry and touches parts underneath the car that heat up, it can ignite the grass and in turn, start a car fire.

4. Be extremely careful when transporting gasoline. You should never transport it inside the cabin of your car if you can help it. If you have to carry it inside the car, then make sure it’s a small amount and that it’s sealed tightly.

5. Know how to spot fire hazards. You should be on the lookout for risks like:

• Smoke coming from your engine or brakes

• The smell of burning

• Loose or worn hoses

• Fuses that have blown multiple times

• Spilled oil or fuel

• Damaged wiring

• A missing or loose oil cap

• Loud noises coming from your exhaust

Toyota of N Charlotte can help you prevent car emergencies

Whether you still have questions about this type of car emergency or just feel like you need your car to be checked out for fire risks, we can help.  Contact Toyota of N Charlotte’s service center today. We’re open seven days a week at (704) 659-2040 and we’re conveniently located just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville.