ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FLAMES

A vehicle bursting into flames on the motorway, kilometres of traffic jam, occupants evacuating in a hurry... These scenes repeat themselves regularly on our roads, from the motorway to the streets of the capital. And yet, almost all Senegalese motorists drive without any means of extinguishing a fire on board.

Why does a car catch fire?

In the Senegalese context, the most common causes are: an electrical short circuit (ageing installations, non-compliant wiring for car radios or air conditioners), a fuel or oil leak onto a hot engine, engine overheating made worse by high temperatures, and worn hoses and wiring on an ageing vehicle fleet. A fire starting in the engine compartment can engulf the whole vehicle in under 3 minutes.

The right reflexes in the event of a fire

Pull over immediately, switch off the engine, have all occupants evacuate and move at least 30 metres away. Never fully open the bonnet: the rush of air fans the flames. Alert the fire brigade (18) and only intervene if the fire is just starting and you have suitable extinguishing equipment.

Prevention, your best insurance

Regular maintenance of the electrical circuit and fuel system remains the first line of defence. But when faced with an engine fire, only on-board equipment makes the difference: a 1 or 2 kg ABC dry powder extinguisher fixed within reach of the driver, or better still, the Elide Fire ball, available in two models depending on your vehicle:

• LIFESAVERS (4 inches, 400 g): for private cars, taxis and light commercial vehicles. Aerosol agent certified to BS EN 16263, classes A, B, C, E, K and G, sound alarm of 90 to 110 dB, 6-year service life with no maintenance.
• FULL LIFESAVERS (6 inches, 1.4 kg) — for high-power engines and large compartments: buses, trucks, construction machinery, boats and motor launches. Coverage of 2.5 m³, tested and certified to TIS 3413-2565 (capacities 2-A, 5-B, 1-C, 2-F and 1-G), CE 1395, TÜV SÜD and BSI. Resistant to vibration (10 kHz for 3 hours) and to 80% relative humidity.

They are fixed directly inside the engine compartment and trigger automatically on contact with a flame, with no human intervention needed, even when the vehicle is parked and unoccupied.

Other decisive strengths: it withstands the extreme conditions of the engine compartment (-40°C to +85°C), comes with a 3-year warranty with no maintenance required, is non-toxic to people, animals and the environment, and damages neither the electrical panel nor the vehicle's electronics after activation.

Cabinet La P.I.P.E., the exclusive Elide Fire® sub-distributor in Senegal, supports you in installing your on-board protection. Contact us on +221 33 825 44 11.