Regarding vehicle fires, which action is true?

Regarding vehicle fires, which action is true?

• A. A burning tire should be cooled with water
• B. A burning tire should be left to burn out
• C. Water should never be used on a fire
• D. Only use a fire extinguisher on the engine

Answer: (A)

When a tire on a vehicle is burning, cooling it with water is the best immediate action. Water absorbs a lot of heat quickly, lowering the tire’s temperature and helping prevent the rubber, steel belts, or rim from failing or exploding as the fire persists. This cooling also buys time to move to safety and call for help, rather than letting flames spread or the tire rupture unpredictably. Leaving it to burn out is dangerous because a tire fire can escalate suddenly and cause a larger fire, while claiming water should never be used on a fire is incorrect—water is appropriate for tire fires to manage heat. Limiting action to only using a fire extinguisher on the engine ignores the fact that tire fires require cooling as well, and extinguishers may not be effective on a burning tire without first reducing the heat.

When a tire on a vehicle is burning, cooling it with water is the best immediate action. Water absorbs a lot of heat quickly, lowering the tire’s temperature and helping prevent the rubber, steel belts, or rim from failing or exploding as the fire persists. This cooling also buys time to move to safety and call for help, rather than letting flames spread or the tire rupture unpredictably. Leaving it to burn out is dangerous because a tire fire can escalate suddenly and cause a larger fire, while claiming water should never be used on a fire is incorrect—water is appropriate for tire fires to manage heat. Limiting action to only using a fire extinguisher on the engine ignores the fact that tire fires require cooling as well, and extinguishers may not be effective on a burning tire without first reducing the heat.