6.2 Vehicle Fire and Emergency Assistance
Key Takeaways
If safe, stop away from buildings, flammable material and people, secure the vehicle and call 000.
Use only a suitable extinguisher and attempt an incipient fire only when trained and safe; withdraw if it grows or the risk is uncertain.
Tyre, fuel, battery and dangerous-goods fires can create hazards beyond visible flames; keep people clear and tell responders what is carried.
Recognise the developing hazard
A vehicle fire may begin with smoke, an unusual smell, a hot wheel, electrical faults or visible flame. Treat those signs seriously. The safe action depends on location and how much control remains, but the driver should not continue a delivery hoping the problem will resolve. A small fault can become a fire while the truck is moving through a tunnel, town or crowded loading area.
If safe, stop in an open location away from buildings, combustible material and people. Avoid placing the fire beneath trees or beside dry vegetation where possible. Secure the vehicle, shut down as appropriate for the vehicle and hazard, and call 000. Give the road, direction, location, vehicle type, people affected and load information. If you cannot stop in an ideal location, explain the obstruction so emergency services can arrange traffic protection.
Protect people first
Move occupants and bystanders away from the fire, traffic, smoke and possible component failures. Keep a clear escape route. Consider wind direction so people are not standing in the smoke plume. Do not put yourself between the fire and the only exit. Keep others from approaching for photographs or to collect belongings from the cab.
The danger is not limited to flames. Smoke can obscure traffic and contain harmful substances. Fuel or chemicals can spread, electrical systems can remain energised, and pressurised or heated components can fail. A vehicle that looks quiet can still contain hot material. Do not declare the area safe based only on the disappearance of visible flame.
| Hazard | Why extra caution is needed | Information for responders |
|---|---|---|
| Engine or electrical area | Heat, fuel, oil and energised equipment may be present | Location of smoke and shutdown actions taken |
| Wheel or tyre | Heat and pressurised assemblies can create violent failure | Which wheel, braking symptoms and recent travel |
| Fuel system | Leakage can spread the fire | Fuel type and visible leak |
| Battery system | Electrical and chemical hazards vary by technology | Vehicle power system if known |
| Dangerous goods | Toxicity, reaction and environmental hazards may be involved | Placards and transport documents from a safe location |
When an extinguisher may be appropriate
The handbook advises using the correct type of extinguisher. Know the equipment before the shift: location, condition, operating instructions and suitability for the expected hazards. An extinguisher is for an early, manageable fire when a trained person can act safely. It is not a reason to enter dense smoke, crawl under a burning vehicle or stand beside a heated tyre.
Only attempt an incipient fire if you are trained, have a suitable extinguisher, can stay clear of smoke and can withdraw immediately. Keep the exit behind you. If the fire grows, the extinguisher is ineffective or the hazard is uncertain, retreat and wait for emergency services. Do not continue because cargo or the vehicle is valuable.
Opening an engine cover fully can admit air and expose the driver to heat. The handbook cautions against unnecessary opening during a fire. Follow safe trained practice and the equipment instructions rather than lift the bonnet and lean over the engine. Do not use an unsuitable agent on live electrical equipment, burning fuel or an unknown chemical load. Firefighters determine the correct larger response.
Tyres and hot wheels
A hot wheel can indicate brake, bearing or tyre problems and can develop into a serious hazard. Stop safely, keep people clear and seek qualified assistance. A heated tyre or wheel assembly can fail violently, even when the problem is not yet a large visible fire. Do not stand in the likely path of fragments or approach to conduct an improvised cooling experiment.
Avoid universal claims that every tyre must be handled with one particular agent or that a single fixed distance guarantees safety. The vehicle, heat source and scene affect the risk. Warn emergency services about wheel heating and follow their directions. After the incident, the affected assemblies require appropriate inspection and repair before use.
Combinations and dangerous goods
The handbook notes that uncoupling may help separate a trailer from a burning prime mover if it can be done safely. This is conditional, not an instruction to crawl into a burning articulation area. Do not attempt it if flames, smoke, unstable ground or loss of braking creates danger. Protect people and let responders manage an unsafe separation.
For dangerous goods, identify the load from documents or placards only when safe. Do not approach a leaking package to read a label, mix chemicals, wash an unknown substance into a drain or attempt a rescue through a hazardous vapour cloud without suitable training and equipment. Tell emergency services what is known and keep people away.
After the immediate incident
Do not restart a damaged vehicle simply because the fire is out. Arrange recovery and inspection, retain useful incident information and report to the operator and relevant authorities as required. Brakes, wiring, tyres, structure and restraint equipment can have hidden heat damage. The return-to-service decision requires appropriate technical assessment.
Key decisions
Stop safely, call 000, protect people and withdraw from uncertain or growing hazards. Equipment and training define whether any initial firefighting attempt is appropriate.
Official sources
Official handbook, vehicle fires; Tasmania Fire Service. Sources checked 10 October 2026.
A small engine fire grows despite a trained driver’s initial extinguisher attempt. What should the driver do?
Open the cover fully and lean into the engine bay
Continue fighting regardless of smoke or escape route
Drive to the depot before calling 000
Withdraw, keep people clear and await emergency services
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.