A car burst into flames on a British street, sending its occupants fleeing for their lives. The incident happened on the quiet suburban street in the West England city of Bristol and witnesses say the vehicle caught fire without any warning or apparent cause. Three nearby cars were also engulfed in the ensuing flames. “All of a sudden there was a huge explosion from the boot of the car,” a witness said, adding, “The windows all shattered.”
The bystander, named only as Rob by reporters, said he dashed to the scene but immediately saw that the vehicle was empty and the driver and passenger had managed to escape the blaze.
A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said officers were investigating the incident and confirmed that one person was hospitalized with burn injuries, but did not indicate how serious these were. The statement also confirmed that four vehicles were impacted and urged local residents to turn over any CCTV or other surveillance footage they may have.
In a similar incident in Bristol, a five-year-old girl died when a car crashed into a traffic light and burst into flames. A second person suffered significant injuries and remains hospitalized. Police are unclear as to the exact cause of the accident and appealed for public assistance.
Experts say that cars can catch fire following collisions if gas tanks or oil pans are damaged. Harm to these devices can cause flammable fluids to leak and result in fire if exposed to heated parts of the vehicle, including the engine.
Fires in cars that are not involved in accidents are rare and less obviously explained, experts note, but usually result from overheating or specific kinds of faults. For instance, electrical currents can cause fires if conductors overheat, or if the car has faulty batteries, or torn or damaged electrical wiring. Additionally, engines and exhaust systems can overheat, and can trigger a fire if it they come into contact with any flammable substance or material.
Other causes of car fires include engine blocks, spilled oil or gasoline cannisters, or manufacturing defects. Experts warn that cleaner cars are far less likely to burst into flames than those caked in dirt or debris.
