Fire warning issued for vehicles left idling in the sun

Many motorists leave their cars running unattended in parking lots for long periods with the air-conditioner on, which may increase safety risks such as overheating and fires, according to some residents.

Due to several factors, a vehicle may overheat, or in the worst-case scenario catch fire, if the engine is left running unattended under searing temperatures.

The country is experiencing such weather conditions, which has prompted a number residents to express concern over the practice.

Despite the risks involved and the environmental impact, the practice of leaving cars unattended with the engine running is common among many motorists in Qatar, according to a car wash attendant stationed outside a popular shopping destination in Doha.

“I’ve seen many shoppers leave their vehicles in the parking lot for long periods while the engine and AC are still running.

Their rationale is that it will be convenient to return to a suitably cooled car after walking under the hot sun,” he said.

“Once a driver parked alongside a car I was washing and left the vehicle’s engine running. She came back from the mall with a small bag of items more than 30 minutes later.”

He said another dangerous practice is to leave children in a car while the parents go shopping.

"They may not know what to do in case of an emergency," he added.

Similarly, if motorists leave their cars unlocked, they may also risk losing valuables such as cash or jewellery.

Car fires may be caused by a number of reasons, including manufacturing defects, poor vehicle maintenance, overheating in the engine, electrical system failures and spilled flammable liquids or fuel system leaks.

Due to a vehicle fire last year, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) discouraged the practice of leaving vehicles running unattended and issued safety guidelines to prevent such incidents.

The MoI advised motorists to have their vehicles undergo periodic maintenance to spot mechanical and electrical problems such as faulty wiring or gasoline leaks.

The ministry also discouraged smoking inside the vehicle or at the petrol stations and parking near generators or flammable materials.

Regular inspection of a car’s engine for spills and checking tyre pressure, as well as keeping a fire extinguisher inside the vehicle, are necessary safety precautions, the MoI advisory added.

Last year, an SUV burst into flames while it was parked in an open area near Qatar Sports Club.

No one was reported hurt in the incident, which happened after Eid prayers at the Imam Mohamed Abdul Wahhab Mosque.

Earlier this month, the MoI said in a tweet that Civil Defence personnel had doused a fire that broke out in a car in the parking area of a shopping mall in the Ain Khaled area of Doha.

No further details were available.

The most recent incident of car fire happened on July 2 in the parking area of a shopping mall in Ain Khaled.

It was unclear what caused the fire, which, according to the MoI, was immediately doused by Civil Defence personnel.

Courtesy: gulf-times.com