Experts say video of Willoughby firefighters working to extinguish a blazing car fire over the weekend shows the possible fire dangers associated with driving through snow banks.
Willoughby fire fighters said the fire was sparked while a driver worked to free the car from a snowed in parking lot over the weekend.
Firefighters fought through three feet of snow to put out the flames and reported that no one was injured.
Safeway Tire Service Manager Chuck Pulaski said it’s not the first snow-related fire he’s seen.
Many have to do with the catalytic converter overheating due to the back and forth action many drivers use to free their cars from the snow.
“You can see its centrally located in the car and that can get hot,” Pulaski said. “And if there’s no heat shielding around it, it can actually set the floor of the car on fire.”
Another issue can involve snow packing the tail pipe.
“The snow can clog up the exhaust and bring exhaust fumes into the car,” he explained.
If flammable fluids are leaking it only takes a tiny spark to start a fire.
He said electrical fires can happen any time of the year and said his best advice is to call for professional help.
“If you get stuck in a snow bank call a tow truck,” he said. “It’s just the easiest way to do it. It’s better than ending up with thousands of dollars in damages or a hospital bill or a fatality.”
