What To Do If Your Pulling Vehicle Catches Fire

A fire on a pulling vehicle develops quickly. High-octane fuel, diesel, methanol, oil, hydraulic fluid, turbocharger heat, batteries and hot exhaust components can turn a small leak into a serious incident within seconds. The noise of an engine under load, smoke from the sled area and crowd movement can make it difficult to identify what is happening, so every crew member needs a clear response before the vehicle reaches the track.

The first priority is always people. A competition truck or tractor can be repaired, replaced or removed from the venue; a trapped driver, mechanic or marshal may have only moments to escape. Fire response should therefore be built around stopping the vehicle, getting clear, alerting officials and calling emergency services rather than protecting expensive machinery.

Australian events also bring particular conditions. Dry grass around a showground, high temperatures in western New South Wales, Queensland or South Australia, and long travel distances between rural venues can make a vehicle fire spread beyond the machine. A pull in Toowoomba, Bendigo or the outskirts of Sydney may have different access arrangements, but the basic emergency priorities remain the same.

Before entering a competition, crews should know the venue’s emergency channel, assembly point, medical arrangements and access route for fire appliances. The Great Lakes association site provides event information and updates for pulling participants, while local officials remain the authority on conditions, staging and emergency procedures at each meeting.

Recognise The Fire Early

Warning signs include a sharp smell of fuel, smoke from beneath the bonnet, flames near the turbo or exhaust, glowing wiring, a burst hydraulic line, unusual popping, a sudden loss of engine power and an electrical smell inside the cab. A fire can begin behind a panel or under a bonnet before flames become visible. Crew members should treat heavy smoke as a real fire, even if the source cannot immediately be seen.

The driver may feel heat through the firewall, notice smoke entering the cab or see warning lights caused by damaged wiring. A spotter or marshal may have a better view of flames around the engine bay, rear tyres or fuel system. Clear, direct communication matters: state that there is a fire, identify the vehicle, and tell the driver and officials where the flames appear to be located.

Do not waste time trying to diagnose whether the problem is fuel, oil, wiring or coolant. Each material behaves differently, and a pressurised line can spray burning fluid across a wide area. Once smoke or flame is confirmed, the response should move immediately from competition mode to emergency mode.

Protect People Before Equipment

The driver should stop in the safest practical position, keep control of the vehicle and switch off the engine if this can be done without delay. If the vehicle is moving, braking should be smooth enough to avoid a rollover or collision. Once stopped, the driver should release the harness, disconnect the steering wheel if fitted, open the nearest safe exit and leave immediately.

A driver should never remain in the cab to collect a helmet, tools, timing equipment or personal possessions. If flames block the normal door, use another approved exit if available. Stay low only while moving through smoke, cover the mouth and nose with clothing if necessary, and avoid crawling beneath a vehicle where fuel or burning fluids may be pooling.

Crew members should keep spectators and other competitors away, especially downwind of smoke. They should point people towards a safe area and prevent anyone from walking behind a burning vehicle. A person whose clothing catches fire should stop, drop and roll; a nearby helper can smother flames with a fire blanket or heavy natural-fibre garment if doing so does not put the helper in danger.

Shut Down And Isolate Energy

Use the emergency engine shut-off, master battery switch or fuel isolation control only when it can be reached safely. A remote shut-down system is valuable because it allows a marshal or crew member to stop the engine without leaning over a burning compartment. However, isolating the battery does not make a hot exhaust, turbocharger, fuel spill or pressurised cylinder harmless.

Once everyone is clear, do not open the bonnet or engine covers abruptly. Opening a compartment can feed oxygen to a fire and produce a sudden burst of flame. If the design allows it, use the installed fire system discharge controls from outside the danger area. Keep clear of tyres, bead areas, compressed-air reservoirs, nitrous or other gas bottles, and any damaged battery pack.

A vehicle can move or roll after the engine stops, particularly on a pull track or ramp. Officials should control access, apply appropriate chocks if this is safe, and keep people away from the front, rear and sides until the machine has been assessed. Never climb underneath a burning or recently damaged vehicle.

Choose Firefighting Action Carefully

A portable extinguisher is useful only when the fire is small, the escape route remains open and the person using it has been trained. Australian competition vehicles commonly carry dry chemical powder extinguishers because they can deal with several flammable-liquid and electrical situations, but the extinguisher must be correctly rated, secured and maintained. Check the gauge, pin, hose, bracket and service date before every event.

Use the extinguisher from a safe distance, aim at the base of the flames and sweep across the burning area. Keep the wind behind you where practical, and move closer only if the fire is clearly reducing. Never stand where smoke, heat or an unexpected flare-up could cut off the exit. If one extinguisher does not control the fire promptly, retreat and wait for fire services.

Water is generally unsafe on burning fuel, oil or energised electrical equipment. It can spread liquid fire and create an electrical shock hazard. Foam, carbon dioxide and dry powder each have different uses, limitations and discharge times, so crews should follow the extinguisher label and venue training rather than relying on assumptions.

Do not attempt to restart the engine after the flames disappear. Hidden wiring, insulation, oil residue and hot surfaces may reignite. A fire appliance or qualified person should inspect the vehicle, and any discharged extinguisher should be replaced before the vehicle returns to competition.

Handle The Trackside Response

The first person who sees the fire should alert the driver, the track marshal and race control. Use the venue’s agreed radio channel or emergency signal, and send someone to direct firefighters through the gate. In Australia, call Triple Zero (000) when there is a threat to life, a significant vehicle fire or a risk of spread to grass, buildings, fuel stores or spectators.

Give emergency services the exact venue, entry gate, track position and access restrictions. Tell them whether the vehicle contains petrol, diesel, methanol, LPG, compressed gas, batteries or other hazardous systems. At country events, a clear gate number and a person waiting to guide the appliance can save valuable time, especially when a showground has several entrances.

Officials should stop pulling activity, clear the track and create a broad exclusion zone. The size depends on the fire, wind, fuel load and nearby hazards, but people should stay well back from smoke and possible tyre or cylinder failures. A fire extinguisher response should never delay the emergency call or place a volunteer between the vehicle and the only exit route.

Wind direction deserves special attention at Australian outdoor venues. Smoke and burning embers can travel across dry grass or towards grandstands, pits and camping areas. Fire wardens may need to halt the meeting, move spectators or contact the local fire authority, such as the NSW Rural Fire Service, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services or the Country Fire Authority in Victoria.

Prevent Fires Before The Pull

Inspection should begin before the vehicle is unloaded. Look for cracked fuel hoses, loose fittings, damaged electrical insulation, oil around the turbocharger, hydraulic leaks, chafed wiring and missing heat shields. Keep fuel lines away from exhaust components, use proper clamps and fire sleeves, and protect vulnerable hoses from vibration and sharp edges.

Battery terminals should be secure and insulated against accidental short circuits. Master switches need clear labelling and reliable operation. Fire suppression nozzles should be aimed at likely ignition points such as the engine bay, turbocharger, fuel pump and cockpit area, with lines protected from heat and abrasion. A system that has been triggered, damaged or poorly charged is not a dependable safety system.

Refuelling belongs in a controlled area away from ignition sources, spectators and hot machinery. Allow components to cool where possible, clean spilled fuel immediately with an appropriate method, and keep smoking, naked flames and unapproved electrical equipment away from the refuelling zone. Do not store loose fuel containers in a hot tow vehicle or in direct Australian sun.

Weight placement also affects how a vehicle behaves when stopping or escaping from a fire. Reviewing weight distribution guidance can help crews think about stability, braking and the location of batteries, fuel systems and safety equipment. A balanced vehicle is easier to control during an emergency stop than one carrying poorly secured or unevenly placed equipment.

Review Damage And Reporting

After the fire is out, establish a firm exclusion zone and wait for officials to declare the area safe. Do not touch damaged wiring, open tanks, move cylinders or remove body panels simply to inspect the loss. Hot spots can remain under insulation, and damaged tyres may fail later. Fire services may use thermal imaging or other equipment to confirm that the vehicle has cooled.

Record the time, location, weather, vehicle condition, fuel and fluids involved, actions taken and names of witnesses. Photographing the damage is useful once officials permit it. Notify the event organiser, association officials, insurer and relevant authorities according to the event rules. A written incident report can reveal a recurring hose, wiring or maintenance fault before another vehicle is affected.

The vehicle should be isolated from other machinery and transported only when it is safe to do so. A qualified mechanic should inspect the fuel system, electrical system, braking components, tyres, chassis, protective panels and fire suppression equipment. Any part exposed to heat, flame, corrosive extinguisher residue or contaminated fluid may need replacement rather than cleaning.

Use the incident to update the crew’s emergency drill. The event planning information can support broader preparation around timing, equipment and venue arrangements, but every team should also practise its own driver escape, radio call, extinguisher use and access-control roles. A short briefing before each pull keeps temporary helpers and new crew members from guessing under pressure.

Every pulling team should carry suitable, serviced extinguishers, know how to activate its emergency shut-off and make sure the driver can escape without assistance. Walk the venue before competition, identify the nearest gate and confirm the emergency contact process with officials. Review the safety requirements on OTTPA.net, keep your vehicle maintained, and make fire response part of every event-day briefing.