CRS case study: Hybrid Range Rover catches fire while being driven

A fire damaged a hybrid Range Rover in Barneveld, the Netherlands. While driving, the driver saw flames under the bonnet and parked the car beside the road. First responders at the scene had to use a hydraulic spreader to open the bonnet to extinguish the fire. Unfortunately, it was impossible to prevent the engine part of the car from burning completely.

By retrieving the registration number of the Range Rover in the Crash Recovery System, the deactivation method described therein could be performed. The 12-volt battery in the back of the car, a component used when deactivating the drive system, was not involved in the fire, but special gloves were worn to disconnect the battery cables. In doing so, it is always important to disconnect or cut the ground cable first, and then the live cable. If this is done the other way around, an electric arc can occur when touching the body with tools.

Therefore, in the event of a vehicle catching fire, always read the information under the Fire and Deactivation buttons in the CRS Rescuesheet of the relevant vehicle first!

The car, only a year old, could be considered a write-off and was towed away by a salvage company.

Crash Recovery System – Know what’s inside, see what to do!