Highway fires: how to drive safely and protect your vehicle

The dry season and low air humidity drastically increase the risk of forest fires on the sides of the roads. According to the Civil Defense, nine out of ten fires originate from human action, driven by the incorrect disposal of cigarette butts and the burning of garbage.

In addition to destroying road infrastructure and threatening fauna, the smoke compromises the driver’s visibility and can damage vehicle components. Therefore, drivers must take specific precautions to circulate safely and know how to act when they find signs of fire near highways.

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How to act when you find smoke on the road

Fires that are too close to the roads or that even reach the roads generate a huge visibility problem, which requires immediate preventive maneuvers to avoid accidents:

• Reduce speed gradually and keep the low beam on.
• Close the windows and place the ventilation system in the air recirculation position.
• Increase the distance from the vehicle in front and avoid sudden braking.
• Never stop on the side of the road or in the lane. If the smoke is dense, look for a safe point off the highway and as far away from the fire as possible, such as service stations.

The heat generated by the flames can also compromise road infrastructure, destroying signposts, damaging pavement and reaching communication systems and electrical cables.

Impacts of burnings on the vehicle and preventive

care Soot and suspended residues affect different parts of the car:

• Paint and bodywork: deposited soot and the formation of acid rain can corrode the varnish. When there is an accumulation of soot particles in the air, they can adhere to the surface of the car, which can cause wear on the paint or stains, in addition to corroding the paint, if not cleaned regularly, in addition to being difficult to remove. Over time, this can lead to accelerated degradation of the protective layer of the varnish.
• Air conditioning: even with the air recirculation system closed, the interior of the car is not airtight, allowing toxic dust to enter that can compromise the quality of the indoor air.

Therefore, it is important to take the following precautions:

• Ricardo Vettorazzi, manager of Automotive Refinishing at PPG Industrial, recommends frequent washes with specific products to remove soot particles and neutral pH soap, application of protective wax and use of a covered garage or protective cover daily. Excessive polishing should also be avoided so as not to wear down the paint layer.
• Automotive refrigeration technician Décio Januzzi recommends changing the cabin filter at shorter intervals and performing the oxy-sanitization of the interior to ensure a healthier environment for the vehicle’s occupants, especially in regions with high levels of pollution and smoke.
• The smoke does not cause severe damage to the engine, as the air filter retains suspended solid particles and the internal heat incinerates microparticles, so there is no need to worry about this part.

Wildlife protection and emergency phones

In addition to destroying vegetation, fires near highways also affect wildlife. With fires, animals seek escape and can invade the lanes, so drivers must respect the signs and an eventual passage of an animal.
If you find fire outbreaks or injured animals, immediately contact the support channels:

• Fire Department: 193
• Civil Defense: 199
• It is also possible to report the occurrence of a fire through the 0800 call centers available on each highway.

The concessionaires that manage the highways usually provide updated information on road conditions and occurrences that may affect traffic, through the agency’s website.