Prevent Fires in Your Car by Ditching Plastic Water Bottles

Fire Loss Prevention Tip #1: No plastic water bottles in cars

By Alayna Trombley

I came across something interesting while scrolling through Instagram this morning. A consumer reporter named Kristi Nelson posted a video about a burn she noticed on the inner part of her car door. The burn was dark with ridges that made it look like a fiery claw took to the interior door panel. Nelson shared that she left two water bottles sitting in the front seat of her car while she parked her car during the late afternoon for a few hours. What happened was the sunlight, the liquid and the plastic in her water bottle led to a spark that resulted in a tiny fire and created the burn. The clear bottle acts as a sort of magnifying glass for the sunlight, creating a perfect beam to ignite a flame. Apparently, many fire departments have issued warnings about this sort of thing. As someone in the business of homeowner’s and property insurance, I had to share this information on our blog. 

With the summer months approaching, it’s not only fireworks and campfires you need to worry about when it comes to fire safety. Next plastic water bottle in your hand, do not leave it in your car. Alternatives are stainless steel water bottles, which can truly be left anywhere. Additionally, as I was researching this topic, I found plenty of information about how leaving plastic water bottles in cars can lead to microplastics entering the water. All the more reason to invest in a reusable water bottle that can withstand extreme temperatures as well as keep you healthy and safe. 

I believe fire safety is a shared responsibility and I feel a duty to share fire loss prevention tips whenever I come across them. Prevention is key when it comes to the unpredictable. I will post more fire loss prevention tips on this blog and keep you updated with the latest information about how to protect yourself. Stay tuned and stay safe!

Link to Kristi's Instagram Video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX7i9hpJ9Rg/