Alarming vehicle fire stats: two cars catch fire each week

Firefighters are growing increasingly alarmed over rising vehicle fire rates. The latest case occurred yesterday and involved a Fiat-Toledo, which caught fire because of a short circuit under the hood. The fire was put out quickly by the owner, a man from Ungheni, and other responsive motorists, but not before it brought damages estimated at 5,000 lei. Liliana Puscasu, spokesperson for the Fire & Rescue Department, has told Info-Prim Neo that the number of cars that catch fire either while in motion or parked has grown lately: from the beginning of the year, 55 vehicles burned partially or completely; that is, two each week. The leading cause is the defective electrical system. According to experts, when drivers sense smoke coming out of the car, they have to use the fire extinguisher, which is a must in each car, to roll up the windows and close the doors so as not to let oxygen in, and call the firemen. Yesterday, there were registered 5 fires across Moldova, of which 3 in Chisinau. 96 persons, including 2 children, were killed in 777 fires that occurred from the beginning of the year.