Faulty Wiring Among Top Causes Of Vihicle Fire
By Khairunnisa Ibrahim

Bandar Seri Begawan - Car owners and motorists should ensure their vehicles are in good working order, with all the wirings and components intact to avoid engine combustion and explosion, a fire expert said.

Pg Hj Roslan Pg Hj Halus, head of the Investigation Division, Fire and Rescue Department, said faulty wiring and electrical faults are the most common causes of vehicular burning. These accounted for most of the cases the division attended to in 2006, he said.

The division received 47 calls about burning vehicles last year, with losses totalling to $487,600.

The vehicles involved were mostly saloon cars, but some heavy vehicles including pick-up trucks and trailers also caught fire last year. In one case, a trailer was reported bursting into flames, causing $50,000 worth of damages.

Other causes of vehicular fires include short circuits in the air conditioning, faulty battery and console box wiring, engine overheat and damage to the engine's cooling system.

"In some cases, the causes of the fire are suspect it may be caused by sabotage or arson. After our investigation, we usually hand over the cases to the police for further inquest," Pg Haji Roslan said.

Another possible cause is high-impact collision. "This occurs especially during rainy season, where cars skid on slippery roads and collide with something at high speed, burst- ' ing into flames upon impact," said Dk Noor Faridahwati PSM Pg A Omar Alli, also from the investigation unit.

But not all cases have obvious causes that can be easily prevented, said Pg Haji Roslan. Normal servicing at' the shop is not always adequate, so he advised car owners to give their engines and parts a thorough checkup to ensure wirings and components are in good condition. "If there are any tears in the insulation of the wiring, get them fixed, or at least wrapped with a strong tape."

Pg Haji Roslan and his division staff yesterday responded to a report of a saloon car burning in Telanai. The Volvo saloon, driven by Dk Hjh Norah Pg Hashim, a schoolteacher in Bunut, stalled while on her way to Muara to pick up her child from school. An attempt to restart the engine resulted in it bursting into flames.

Pg Haji Roslan said the combustion was caused by faulty wiring. "The insulation of the car engine's wiring was damaged," he said, in pointing out the cause of the fire. He estimated the damage at about $12,000. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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