Oman reported a drop of 21.19 per cent in the number of vehicle fire accidents in 2020 compared to 2019, while the decline is steeper (27.59 per cent) over 2018. 

According to the Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (ACDA), there were 606 cases of vehicle fires in 2020 compared to 769 reported in 2019 from different parts of the sultanate. The number of cases were more in 2018, when 837 vehicles caught fire, and even greater – 894 – in 2017. 

‘Motorists should adopt simple measures to protect their vehicles from fire. These include periodic vehicle maintenance, pulling over if the engine is overheated and not parking or stopping near generators or flammable materials,’ said ACDA. 

The authority stated that some of the other safety measures include turning off the engine and mobile phones when refuelling, ensuring fire extinguishers are intact, using only original spare parts, especially radiators and getting vehicles repaired only at licensed workshops. 

‘In case the vehicle catches fire, stop immediately, evacuate passengers and try dousing the fire using an extinguisher. Disconnect the battery if possible to prevent further spread.’

‘We urge vehicle owners to inspect vehicles at regular intervals and ensure the availability of a hand-held fire extinguisher,’ ACDA added.