High summer temperatures have caused 20 to 30 percent more vehicle fires than in other seasons, experts said.
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Yu Genling, an official from Wenzhou Fire Station, was commenting on a series of recent vehicle fires across the country.
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To decrease the possibility of accidental fires, Yu reminded the general public that lighters, especially disposable lighters, should never be left in a vehicle.
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"My lighter exploded earlier last week as it was forgotten in my leather bag, which was left in the sun inside my car, but luckily, it didn't cause a fire," he said.
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In Shanghai, an ambulance caught fire near Yan'an road and Loushanguan road at about 10 am on July 9.
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It was the second vehicle to burst into flames in the city within two days.
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On July 8, a double-decker sightseeing bus caught fire around 7 pm in the Lujiazui area of Shanghai's Pudong district. The fire started in the vehicle's engine bay, and firefighters extinguished the blaze after 30 minutes.
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No casualties were reported in either accident.
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Zhou Meiliang, spokesman for the Shanghai firefighting authority, said high temperatures in the city contributed to the vehicles catching fire.
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"Accidents where vehicles catch fire happen throughout the year with summer the high incidence season," he said.
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Zhou said the results of investigations into the causes of the recent vehicle fires haven't come out yet but that oil leaks, electrical short-circuits or storing combustible goods in the car are three common firestarters.
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A taxi caught fire while being driven and burnt the driver slightly in Shanghai on June 19. A privately owned Passat car also caught fire while being driven on June 26, causing widespread congestion at the city's South-North Viaduct.
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Zhang Xingliang, a salesman at a Shanghai car dealership, said insufficient car maintenance can contribute to the aging of auto parts and lead to spills of engine oil and brake fluid, sparking a fire.
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"Electrical short-circuits may also ignite the car in other cases," he said, adding that's why it is important to have cars serviced every 5,000 kilometers and change the oil on a regular basis.
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"Plastic parts or decorations inside the car may also melt and become a potential safety loophole as they expand with heat," Zhang added.
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To avoid similar accidents, Ying Haifeng, who is in charge of vehicle management for one of Shanghai's oldest sightseeing bus operators Big Bus Tour, said two brand-new buses with modern safety protection system to prevent spontaneous combustion would be put into use by the end of the month.
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"Unlike a fire extinguisher, the spherical-shaped prevention device is installed in the rear engine so that when the engine reaches a certain temperature, it will automatically work to prevent a potential fire," Ying said.