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Car fire is out, do you cut the battery cable?
Today we had a car fire where the fire kept in the engine compartment and the dash board until the engine arrived and extinguished the fire. Once the fire was out I went to cut the battery negative cable as I was taught, to ensure nothing shorts out int he now exposed wires, and there's not accidental airbag deployment later (like when the Wrecker driver is releasing the Parking Brake).
The IC told me not to cut the cable because it would screw up the insurance investigation since the owner said she had just had electrical work done. I followed the order, but I think the IC made the wrong call. Couldn't any insurance investigator tell the cables were cut after the fire was out by the clean copper which would be showing? Or if it was noted in the report that we cut the battery cables?
Is it SOP in most departments to cut the battery cables after a car fire is out?
The IC told me not to cut the cable because it would screw up the insurance investigation since the owner said she had just had electrical work done. I followed the order, but I think the IC made the wrong call. Couldn't any insurance investigator tell the cables were cut after the fire was out by the clean copper which would be showing? Or if it was noted in the report that we cut the battery cables?
Is it SOP in most departments to cut the battery cables after a car fire is out?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Greenman on
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I assume the battery cables are in question after the fires is out and you're left with a bunch of exposed wires.
Depending on the severity of the fire, there may not be a battery left to worry about!
Greenman
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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From here - Protocols for the Recovery, Maintenance and Presentation of
Motor Vehicle Event Data Recorder Evidence (12/05)
http://www.harristechnical.com/articles/mvedr.pdf
Pg.3
Insure the ignition is in the off position before connecting the CDR Tool; cutting or disconnecting any EDR cables. Disabling the vehicle’s electrical system, by disconnecting or cutting the battery cables, may be desirable to prevent energizing of the EDR module and the inadvertent creation or
overwriting of files at a later date.
http://www.harristechnical.com/articles/mvedr.pdf
From here - http://www.cdr-system.com/help/view_faq_questions.php
When we have a vehicle collision in my city, the fire department automatically and completely cuts the battery wires for safety. How does this affect the EDR and data stored during a collision? (2010-12-01)
There is no stand alone "EDR" in a car. An "EDR" is a function of another module (i.e.: rollover sensor or airbag control module). So, during a collision these modules do whatever it is they do and then, when their primary function is done they MAY, MIGHT, COULD record some crash related information as a function of the EDR capability of that module but that's going to happen long before the fire department shows up. If the module which has an EDR capability has done its job, it has long since recorded crash related data before the fire department cuts cables so their cutting those cables doesn't really impact the data but can make it "that much" harder for you to get data using the Bosch CDR System later.
Interesting side note: In the above referenced question and answer regarding cutting battery cables by the FD, the author initially states
the following:
The idea that cutting battery cables is a "safety precaution" as it relates to air bag systems is misleading. Sadly, firemen have been taught for years airbags will go off almost spontaneously so they have to cut the cables and that simply isn't the case. In most cases, simply turning the ignition to "off" renders the airbag system safe quicker than cutting the cables. (added emphasis mine.)
I have yet to find any information that states that undeployed airbags are NOT dangerous.
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Permalink Reply by joemac on
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Since we're concerned with safety, it is best to disable the electrical system whenever there has been damage sustained. Wiring and related components can cause all sorts of malfunctions, some of them dangerous, even catastrophic.
Circuits can be energized after the fact that can make things happen that can quickly bring harm/injury/death.
An example:
Stick shift vehicle, gearshift engaged in a gear when parked, suffers a fire under the hood. The fire is contained and nearly extinguished.
Suddenly, without warning, the vehicle begins lurching forward (or in reverse), as though possessed.
I've seen it happen. I've heard of air bags going off, even though the ignition key was removed and the fire is out.
The point is, all that is needed is the bridge the right circuit to that of an energized path, and the unthinkable can occur. It's like internal injuries: no one can guarantee that there aren't any, without some testing.
It's far better to be safe and disconnect the source of energy, negating any chance of surprises, than to save someone a few dollars for new battery cables in a vehicle that may never even run again, anyway.
Protect everyone associated at the scene by disabling the system.
We are concerned with safety, aren't we?
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Permalink Reply by Tyler Lyons on
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Safety of the crew is first, there is no reason to not cut the cables unless you need to move an electric seat back in a crash. If there is a fire or crash, a $15 set of cables isn't a big deal. If an insurance adjuster can't figure it out, well they should find a new line of work. Keep your crews & patients safe! Airbags SHOULDN'T go off if the ignition is off. They are designed to not deploy accidently.
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