"RESIDENTS SHOULD BE AWARE THE POTENTIAL DANGER BY SIMPLY PARKING THEIR CAR"
Throughout the fall season, residents should be aware of the potential danger and fire hazard that can occur by simply parking their motor vehicle in certain areas.
The cause of some of
the recent fires
that have occurred
in surrounding towns
have been determined
to have been caused
by the accumulation
of fallen leaves in
the driveways or at
the edge of roadways
that were ignited by
the parking of a
car.
This specific condition occurs from the result of the hot exhaust system components coming in contact with the fallen, dry leaves. Specifically, the catalytic converter is the cause.
The catalytic converter is a component the exhaust system that is located underneath the car. Its’ specific purpose is to burn of hazardous and toxic pollutants generated from the gasoline powered engine. The catalytic converter, which internally holds a variety of precious metals, creates internal chemical process which burns the pollutants at a high temperature and produces less toxic materials, primarily water and carbon dioxide.
Another by-product
of the converting
process is heat.
Normal Internal
operating
temperatures inside
of the catalytic
converter while an
engine in running
can be in the area
of
1000
degrees F to 1,400
degrees F.
The outside metal
surface temperature
of the catalytic
converter can be in
the range of 800
degrees F to 1,100
degrees F. Should
fallen dried leaves
come in contact with
the metal surface of
the converter when a
car is parked on top
of accumulated
leaves; the dried
leaves can easily be
ignited from the
heat of the metal
surface. The amount
of heat generated by
the catalytic
converter can even
reach temperatures
that can cause the
metal components to
glow red hot.
This condition can
occur when the
engine is running to
rich or when too
much gasoline
additive(s) are
added to the fuel
beyond what is
recommended by the
product
manufactures.
Examples of some of these additives that are commonly purchased are dry gas which is used to remedy a water problem in the gas or octane boost. Octane boost is a gasoline additive product designed to increase the octane level of gasoline which is said to increase over all performance.
The Branford Fire Department recommends that residents observe the area where they are going to park their vehicle and determine if there is an accumulation of leaves. If so, residents should park in another area that is free of the accumulation of leaves or remove the leaves from the area before parking the vehicle.
Click on the following link to see a further explanation of this potentially hazardous condition and to see the devastating effects that can occur. This recreation was done so in conjunction with Channel 30 WVIT