Here is the story I received in the email that had this picture attached...
"A safety reminder about the consequences of driving vehicles through brush/grasslands during these hot summer months. This occurred to a former BPA employee, who now works for the US Fish and Wildlife. On the afternoon of August 5th, 2010 he was driving to a remote location in Southeastern Oregon looking for survey corners, parked and started hiking, when he turned around later he saw smoke coming from the area the truck was parked. He ran back to the truck but it was completely engulfed in flames, a large fire ensued in which Dave fled for his life, he ended up running 8 miles to escape it but he breathed heavy smoke in for about two hours. He spent the night in the hospital due to heavy smoke inhalation and CO poisoning. I spoke with him today and he says he is feeling "normal" now but that it was really scary."
"When I was in the field I would look under my truck after going through this type of terrain and remove the vegetation stuck under the truck or in the radiator. I also attempted to park over a spot without vegetation, either all rock or dirt. Be careful out there!"
Good post.....this is something many don't think about, even when pulling off onto a shoulder area.
Ryan wrote:
"When I was in the field I would look under my truck after going through this type of terrain and remove the vegetation stuck under the truck or in the radiator. I also attempted to park over a spot without vegetation, either all rock or dirt. Be careful out there!"
Excellent advice! Thanks for posting.
I know of a survey crew that became stuck while a forest fire was bearing down on them. The four crew members escaped unscathed. The truck was not as fortunate.
Have a great week!
I think it overheated.
(at least that is what I think)
N
Could be a catalytic converter, we're told to watch out if parking in a hay field.
Dave
Good post Ryan. I have had to fight those kind of fires for years. They can even start from a piece of bottle glass when the sun is right for it to act like a lens. Carbon from a worn diesel engine can start them, but usually it is the red hot catalytic converter that does it. We go to a lot of trouble to keep that area clean and the rig parked in places where there is the least potential of starting a fire.
jud
A client went out one day to view his newly purchased property and parked over a long forgotten bale of hay. Soon after he found his truck was on fire and had to run for his life. Many acres burned.
Have seen many fires started from an overheated catalytic converter and from a dirty engine. One to check the catalytic converter is at night after a moderate drive. If it is becoming stopped up it will have a red glow.
Removing baffles from mufflers on an ATV may increase horsepower, but it will also tend to spit out sparks and cause fires.
Wow. :-O Thank God he is ok and not seriously injured.
Your post made me think too and now when I drive to the swimming holes and other places around here I will make sure I am not parked over brush and vegetation. Thank you for sharing.
That exact same thing happened to us about 12 years ago.
I posted the story on the old board, luckily we were directly across the street from a rural fire station.
The truck was a total loss.
:'(