A driver in China managed to avoid serious injury after his car burst into flames.
Reports state that he had demanded his fuel tank be overfilled. This, in turn, would have caused petrol to leak and spill onto his clothes.
Video footage shows a member of the public helping the man remove his trousers after they also ignited.
It is claimed that the fireball was the result of the driver throwing a lighted cigarette out the window moments before.
The fire led to a nearby car also bursting into flames.
The video shows other members of the public getting caught up in the commotion. The conditions of everyone involved are unknown.
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Our Thoughts
No, our pants are not on fire. This is a genuine news report from China.
It doesn’t need saying that you should never overfill your car’s fuel tank. Even if you’ve discovered a service station selling it at a good price, there’s only so much you can fit in, however hard you try.
So stay aware of how much you are putting in your car when filling up. When the pump handle clicks off, you’re almost at bursting point.
Mobile phones are banned not because they are a fire hazard, but because they are a common form of distraction
It’s important to remember that you are dealing with a highly-flammable liquid.
In fact, the vapour is often more flammable than the liquid itself. And it is likely that the cigarette ignited the vapour rather than the actual petrol.
If you’re ever in a car which catches on fire, then you should pull over the side of the road immediately and get everyone out.
Having a small car fire extinguisher is your first line of defence against a fire. And they are compact enough to not take up too much room in your car.
Being ready to react quickly can easily prevent a small fire from getting out of control.
Just remember that if the fire is under the bonnet, you should under no circumstances open it. This will feed the fire oxygen, causing it to flare up into a fireball before you.
Instead, spray the extinguishing agents through the vents at the front and in the gaps around the edge.
But if you feel the fire is already too big for you to tackle, get everyone a safe distance away and call for the fire brigade.
Help to prevent a car fire by keeping it well serviced and maintained, and using your common sense.