Lorry Fires

[colin6789]

Is it just because there are a lot more lorries these days or that traffic news picks them up more, but there seems to be a lot more lorry fires about today that some years ago. With newer design of lorries and better maintenance and testing there should be fewer. Can anybody explain the apparent increase in lorry fires?.

[Toureman]

There isn't any increase in lorry fires, There used to be a lot more in past years.

It's just more sensational news for the media, how many car fires are big news.

In the earlier years steam engined trucks were always catching fire, so were a lot of older petrol and diesel trucks, due to old technology.

The media never reported them due to lack of communications then.

[sddsddean]

Also the Police (bless 'em!) are much more likely to close a motorway/road at the drop of a hat for the smallest excuse (such as a lorry fire) nowadays. I think it is this fact coupled with the ensuing holdups and inconvienience to everyone that you hear about, rather than the fire itself.

[gouldc]

The biggest cause of lorry fires (in my experience of dealing with them) is the design of the air intake.

A tiny piece of paper or debris is sucked in, and the heat of the engine ignites it - it's quite shocking how often that occurs - I'd have to say at least 90% of the cases I've dealt with have been due to that.

Obviously a lorry fire is a bigger issue than a car fire due to the trailer almost always catching alight as well, and there's generally a lot of flammible materials on board!

Plus the government want the police to shut motorways to encourage us to use public transport : )