Four vehicle fires in a day; experts ask motorists to be cautious as summer sets in

Peak summer is yet to hit Oman, and four incidents of vehicles catching fire have already been reported.

According to the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulances (PACDA), a car caught fire in Buraimi on Sunday night.

No injuries were reported. On Saturday, a car in Shinas went up in flames. A PACDA team extinguished the flames. The same day, a moving car caught fire near the Sohar Bridge. Its driver informed civil defence officials on seeing smoke from under the hood. The third such incident was reported in Khabourah when a passenger bus caught fire.

Residents of the area said PACDA teams reached the spot and extinguished the flames. The ROP has advised vehicle owners to get periodic maintenence done and get fire extinguishers installed. “It is always advisable to have fire extinguishers inside the vehicles. New vehicles have them, but many old ones do not,” said Talal Mohammed al Abri, a Muscat resident. Shaji K, an automobile expert in Wadi Kabir said that not many people get their cars checked regularly.

“They come here only when there is a technical fault. Regular checks and maintenance are the best way to prevent accidents and vehicle fires.” According to automobile experts, high temperatures can cause fire in a running vehicle. Constant exposure to the sun can heat up the vehicle’s engine. It can also cause exposed wires to melt, causing sparks and fires, they added. “If loose wires come in contact with metal, it can result in a fire,” they warned.

Source: MuscatDaily