Summary: Car fires aren’t just about flames. They’re about hidden hazards and the choices you make before you even crack the nozzle. Whether it’s a torched junker, a van on the highway, or just an unpredictable fire scene, rushing in without asking the right questions can cost you more than turnout gear. If there’s no life to save, are you still treating it like a rescue? Slow down. Think first. Let the fire show you what it really is.
Are You Treating Every Car Fire Like It's Life or Death?
What's Really in That Car and Do You Know Yet?
Before you even grab the nozzle, have you asked what this car might be hiding? Is it a gas can in the back seat? A propane tank in the trunk? A vehicle used in a crime? Is it an electric car or a hybrid you can’t quite identify in the dark? Many experienced firefighters have knocked down dozens of these, but how many of them did you actually size up first?
How Close is Too Close and When Should You Back Off?
If it’s fully involved and clearly beyond saving, what’s the goal? Are you still walking up close to prove something, or standing back and letting the water do the work? Are you risking your body over scrap metal? If the fire is venting strong and the tires are popping, do you really need to be six feet away?
Are You Approaching Smart or Walking Into the Danger Zone?
Are you coming in from an angle or walking straight at the hood? Are you upwind and uphill or standing in runoff? Do you remember to watch for bumpers? What about struts, lift supports, or hood shocks — are those in your mental size-up?
Are You Fully Dressed Out or Just Hoping for the Best?
Mask on? Hood up? SCBA flowing air? Are you skipping steps because it’s “just a car fire” or treating it like the chemical soup it is? Have you ever taken a breath of plastic fumes and decided that was the last time?
Do You Have a Plan for the Hood or Just Winging It?
If the hood’s jammed and the latch is melted shut, do you know how to tent it with a Halligan? Can you angle a straight stream through the grill or punch water in through the radiator? Are you trained to get water on the fire without fumbling around with tools that won’t buy you time?
Are You Letting the Stream Do Its Job?
Do you remember that your nozzle can hit from a distance? Are you using that reach or charging right up to the car for no reason? If there’s no rescue and no threat to exposures, why are you pressing in? Are you making the fire smaller from a safe spot, or stepping into danger because it feels faster?
Are You Ready for EVs or Still Guessing?
If it’s an electric vehicle, do you have a plan or are you still hoping it acts like a gas car? Are you watching for battery fires, flare-ups, or delayed reignition? Do you even know how long this thing could burn?
Are You Forgetting There Might Be Someone Inside?
If it’s clearly unoccupied, great. But how sure are you? Are you checking every time, or assuming because no one is screaming? What if there’s someone slumped in the back seat or a pet locked in the cab? What’s your search size-up look like on these calls?
How Are You Placing Your Engine?
Is your rig too close to the scene? Are you blocking escape routes or setting up for a clean knockdown? Have you thought about radiant heat, BLEVE risk, or traffic patterns? Are you placing your engine like this is a bread-and-butter run, or giving your crew space to work and stay safe?
Final Question: Are You Leading With Tactics or Just Going Through the Motions?
Are you showing up to each car fire with a tactical mindset, or running the same play every time? Do you pause to ask what’s different about this one, or assume they’re all the same? The truth is, it’s the calls that seem routine that catch you slipping. And the ones that look easy can turn real dangerous real fast.
If this kind of reflection gets you thinking, you’re not alone. Firefighters everywhere are rethinking how they handle car fires. Not with fear, but with focus.
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