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THE NUMBER of vehicle fires in the USA has fallen to a record low, but these fires still cause a significant proportion of annual fire incidents and deaths, says a new report.
US vehicle fire trends and patterns is based on research carried out by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and covers the period 1980 to 2006. It explains that there were 278,000 vehicle fires in 2006 – the lowest number recorded during the 26-year period. In addition, the number of fires involving highway vehicles almost halved over the period.
However, vehicle fires continue to be a considerable burden. In 2006 alone, they accounted for 17% of all fires reported to fire departments and were responsible for 15% of all civilian fire-related deaths and 12% of the nation’s direct property loss that year.
Most of the fatalities involved fires resulting from collisions or overturns, and teenagers and young adults were most at risk.
From 2002 to 2005, 50% of the highway vehicle fires were caused by mechanical failure or malfunction, such as leaks or worn out parts.
Launching the report, the NFPA joined forces with vehicle organisation AAA to highlight the risk of vehicle fires and preventative steps that can be taken, including the need for annual vehicle maintenance by professional technicians.
The report is available from: www.nfpa.org
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