Again?? same exact thing happened last week too.

It's the season for miracles.

The Stealth Hippopotamus: "while dressed as Santa Claus"

now he is just showing off.

one-upmanship is can be an ugly thing

Bunnyhat: I do live in Louisiana, a very humid and wet place. So it's possible that might reduce car fire incidents.

I remember when I first moved to Houston (also pretty damned humid a lot of the time,) I was amazed at the frequency of 'car-b-que' incidents as my coworkers called them. Humidity definitely didn't help here. :(

/ throws subby's extra comma in a car fire
// lots of good Samaritan stuff this year. Makes me happy.

The to this is the guy in the Santa suit set the fire.


/cynic

What a nice story.

"Seven years later, she still keeps a hot pink folder full of photos..."

/uh...

D-D-D-Dave: The Stealth Hippopotamus: "while dressed as Santa Claus"

now he is just showing off.

one-upmanship is can be an ugly thing



/hot

it almost looks like he's just showing off in those pictures! Saving the day like a boss

No hero tag?

Bunnyhat: Does the guy work on those cars?

Cause I've gone almost 30 years without seeing a car fire and they're happening all around him.

i did a search on his son and found some articles about his accident. apparently his tire blew out on the interstate and he lost control of his vehicle and the impact split the car in half. no mention of a fire or anything?

also his father, aka santa, was a volunteer firefighter at the time of his death...so i'm guessing that the way he was directing traffic around the car fire like a boss just has to do with past experience with accident control

Should've let the man die. Then he could have adopt the guy's son as a replacement.

Damn, that's ironic.

Story is short of details.

how did he "save" him? The guy was awake when he was 'pulled' from the truck.
They never said the dude was trapped.

my interputation of events:

CRASH..
Santa runs up.. 'Are you ok'
dad.. yes
Santa.. 'better get out of the car, I smell gas'
dad 'you are right'
Car catches fire..
HERO..

not trying to poo poo the story, but how exactly did he "save" the dad from the truck? did he jaws of life the door open with his teeth..
Now that would be a story..

smallerGov: Story is short of details.

how did he "save" him? The guy was awake when he was 'pulled' from the truck.
They never said the dude was trapped.

my interputation of events:

CRASH..
Santa runs up.. 'Are you ok'
dad.. yes
Santa.. 'better get out of the car, I smell gas'
dad 'you are right'
Car catches fire..
HERO..

not trying to poo poo the story, but how exactly did he "save" the dad from the truck? did he jaws of life the door open with his teeth..
Now that would be a story..



Came here to say that. Walker (the driver) says: "The first thing I see is Santa running towards my vehicle hollerin 'are you OK?' and I'm like 'why is Santa asking if I'm OK?', y'know".

I wouldn't want to be that guy right now. Basically he's being forced to thank Luddeke for saving his life, in front of the world.

The whole thing still choked me though. This is because I'm a hypocrite.

But what does that make them ?

ArcadianRefugee: Should've let the man die. Then he could have adopt the guy's son as a replacement.

While this is funny, the other guy has a daughter. Kinda 6-pac cute.

I just don't see how with all the modern auto safety technology cars still catch on fire like that. Chrissakes, put some kind of flame retardant in them that smothers the gas tank after impact or something.

here to help: I just don't see how with all the modern auto safety technology cars still catch on fire like that. Chrissakes, put some kind of flame retardant in them that smothers the gas tank after impact or something.

Maybe he ignored the Check Engine light.

here to help: I just don't see how with all the modern auto safety technology cars still catch on fire like that. Chrissakes, put some kind of flame retardant in them that smothers the gas tank after impact or something.

HA HA HA. You're so cute. That stuff costs money!!! Some stock holder might have to forgo his lobster bisque at the polo club if they squander all their money on crap like safety. Ford (et al) could give a rat's ass less as long as you can't prove they did it on purpose.

And yet folks go full derp about the volt because it caught fire three weeks after a viloent collision

Too Pretty For Prison: here to help: I just don't see how with all the modern auto safety technology cars still catch on fire like that. Chrissakes, put some kind of flame retardant in them that smothers the gas tank after impact or something.

HA HA HA. You're so cute. That stuff costs money!!! Some stock holder might have to forgo his lobster bisque at the polo club if they squander all their money on crap like safety. Ford (et al) could give a rat's ass less as long as you can't prove they did it on purpose.

A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.

I've seen three car fires, so they do happen. One many years ago a guy was seriously on fire on the LA expressway doing 70 and didn't know it. That was amusing. Another, a car just burned in our parking lot about 45 minutes after being parked. Another, a car burning at an intersection with a lady throwing bottled water on it.

here to help: I just don't see how with all the modern auto safety technology cars still catch on fire like that. Chrissakes, put some kind of flame retardant in them that smothers the gas tank after impact or something.


You'd have to make the whole vehicle somehow retardant. You've got gasoline, fuel lines, electrical wiring and a lot of rubber and plastic to fuel a fire. The gas tank on a modern vehicle actually is pretty safe - since passenger vehicle fires usually start in the engine bay, the car would be utterly consumed by the time it reaches there.

Some of the most spectacular fires I've seen were on 18 wheelers that had a stuck brake overheat and set a tire on fire, which then spread to consume the entire vehicle. Tires burn hot and long and can easily ignite whatever is around them.

TheDirtyNacho: here to help: I just don't see how with all the modern auto safety technology cars still catch on fire like that. Chrissakes, put some kind of flame retardant in them that smothers the gas tank after impact or something.


You'd have to make the whole vehicle somehow retardant. You've got gasoline, fuel lines, electrical wiring and a lot of rubber and plastic to fuel a fire. The gas tank on a modern vehicle actually is pretty safe - since passenger vehicle fires usually start in the engine bay, the car would be utterly consumed by the time it reaches there.

Some of the most spectacular fires I've seen were on 18 wheelers that had a stuck brake overheat and set a tire on fire, which then spread to consume the entire vehicle. Tires burn hot and long and can easily ignite whatever is around them.

Well that's the thing that confuses me. The chassis is mostly steel. It shouldn't be a big deal to have flame retardant materials for the seats and paneling. Fuel lines would be tricky but they won't have a enough fuel in them to be a major threat because it would burn off rather quickly. There could be some kind of shut off valve that activates on impact thus separating the fuel lines from the tank. As I said some kind of fire extinguisher type dealy or a chemical that neutralizes the gas (not sure if that's possible) upon impact would deal with the major fire hazard (the tank). None of that should cost the manufacturers very much more with all the materials we have access to. It's nonsense especially considering how much they brag about safety features.

Bunnyhat: Does the guy work on those cars?

Cause I've gone almost 30 years without seeing a car fire and they're happening all around him.

I've seen a couple over the years, including a bread delivery truck that was just a roaring ball of flame in the entire front half with the driver standing pathetically holding a tiny fire extinguisher. Once passed a station wagon in the desert with a burning engine, the family inside had not only gotten out, but had also cleared out all their luggage. Friend of mine had his Eagle Talon catch fire at 3am in Boston after it sputtered to a stop. Another friend had his Chevy Citation catch fire in Bakersfield. That one actually burned enough to bubble the paint on the hood, but somehow he managed to fix it enough to drive it another couple months.

Had another friend lose his older half-brother after a car accident trapped him in the passenger seat. Bystanders got out the driver, but the car burned before they could get him out.

So... they happen. Sometimes it's slightly comical, sometimes it's tragic.

smallerGov: how did he "save" him? The guy was awake when he was 'pulled' from the truck.
They never said the dude was trapped.

I got a woman out of a burning vehicle once. She was wide awake, panicking, and trying desperately to get her door open, although it was up against a concrete barrier. I opened the passenger door and talked her toward me... she was pregnant enough to show and had to get over a gear shift... it seemed to take forever. So, I don't know whether I "Saved" her, but she sure was awake, not trapped, and not saving herself.

here to help: TheDirtyNacho:There could be some kind of shut off valve that activates on impact thus separating the fuel lines from the tank.

Since fuel injection, cars have had inertia switches that kill the fuel pump after sensing a bump, thus cutting the engine and effectively separating it from the fuel line, pretty much. They usually unlock doors, too. They work well. Apart from rare issues such as over sensitive inertia switches. Drive fast over a humpback bridge? No brakes for you. You didn't need the power steering either.

Google your car model + inertia switch, it's useful to know where it is in case you ever need to reset it.

WhoIsWillo: This happened down the road from where I live.

/So I'm getting a kick...

Ha, me to. So when are we having a farm party?

brownbread: Apart from rare issues such as over sensitive inertia switches. Drive fast over a humpback bridge? No brakes for you. You didn't need the power steering either.

*facepalm*

Goddamned auto industry. A hundred years and insane amounts of profits and they still put out overpriced, environment destroying, POS death traps.

/from an auto worker family
//after the bailouts they completely f*cked up everyone's pensions
///and now that they're making money again the retirees are still SOL

Fun fact:

In the United States alone, a car bursts into flames every 109 seconds on average. (Pops to PDF)
=Smidge=

Smidge204: Fun fact:

In the United States alone, a car bursts into flames every 109 seconds on average. (Pops to PDF)
=Smidge=

Wow, I guess I would not want to ride in that car.

KarmicDisaster: Smidge204: Fun fact:

In the United States alone, a car bursts into flames every 109 seconds on average. (Pops to PDF)
=Smidge=

Wow, I guess I would not want to ride in that car.

Heh... didn't think I'd make use of those silly new buttons but "funny!"

here to help: TheDirtyNacho: here to help: I just don't see how with all the modern auto safety technology cars still catch on fire like that. Chrissakes, put some kind of flame retardant in them that smothers the gas tank after impact or something.


You'd have to make the whole vehicle somehow retardant. You've got gasoline, fuel lines, electrical wiring and a lot of rubber and plastic to fuel a fire. The gas tank on a modern vehicle actually is pretty safe - since passenger vehicle fires usually start in the engine bay, the car would be utterly consumed by the time it reaches there.

Some of the most spectacular fires I've seen were on 18 wheelers that had a stuck brake overheat and set a tire on fire, which then spread to consume the entire vehicle. Tires burn hot and long and can easily ignite whatever is around them.

Well that's the thing that confuses me. The chassis is mostly steel. It shouldn't be a big deal to have flame retardant materials for the seats and paneling. Fuel lines would be tricky but they won't have a enough fuel in them to be a major threat because it would burn off rather quickly. There could be some kind of shut off valve that activates on impact thus separating the fuel lines from the tank. As I said some kind of fire extinguisher type dealy or a chemical that neutralizes the gas (not sure if that's possible) upon impact would deal with the major fire hazard (the tank). None of that should cost the manufacturers very much more with all the materials we have access to. It's nonsense especially considering how much they brag about safety features.


Actually the plastics are flame retardant. Note that is not the same as flame-proof.... it's still possible to consume such materials given enough heat and time. That's what fully involved car fires turn into.

Car fires in general are pretty rare, fully engulfed are rarer, and deaths even more rare.

I just wrote a whole long post and the farkbot f*cking ate it. SONNOVA!

I ain't typing all that sh*t out again

Bunnyhat: Does the guy work on those cars?

Cause I've gone almost 30 years without seeing a car fire and they're happening all around him.

I've owned ~50 cars and have yet to see a car fire as well. I also live in the motor city and had a car shop here for a few years. I still keep an extinguisher in all of my cars just in case though. I have seen a flare up on the dyno before but no actual fire.

'Where were you, Santa?'

Bunnyhat: Cause I've gone almost 30 years without seeing a car fire and they're happening all around him.

I just saw one a few months ago on I-94. Scared the shiat out of me...Had to swerve to avoid burning parts falling onto the roadway...

/csb