Submitted Photo A car was significantly damaged after it ignited following a traffic crash in Bottineau County in January.

BOTTINEAU – A Bottineau County woman’s car ignited with her two children inside after a crash in January. The family made it out of the car safely; however, the car was burnt beyond recognition.

North Dakota Highway Patrol Sgt. Josh Gudvangen spoke about car safety during safety emergencies.

Gudvangen, who is based in Minot, said a car igniting after an accident is rare but it’s important to play the “what if” game. Developing a plan ahead of time can save precious seconds when an individual’s mind and body are panicking. Having that “Plan B” can help that person exit the vehicle faster and safer.

Gudvangen said oftentimes the first warning sign that a car is going to ignite is the smell of something melting. Melting wires are a good indication that something is getting hot or touching the engine or exhaust that shouldn’t be. The other indication is smoke.

“Whether you’re driving or you’re in a vehicle accident, as soon as you start noticing that, the first thing that people should be thinking about is exiting the vehicle safely,” Gudvangen said.

He said the protocol for getting out of the vehicle is like the protocol in an airplane emergency – “Get your mask on first, then help others.”

After removing yourself and any other passengers, the next step is to get as far away as possible and make contact with emergency services. Depending on how much fuel is in the gas tank, a rather large explosion can occur.

Gudvangen said to keep the car in eyesight as emergency services will ask questions about where the fire is located on the car and if the car is still ignited.

Gudvangen said seatbelts can malfunction after crashes, due to broken metal or fire. He recommends keeping a seatbelt cutter in a “go bag” that is within reach of the driver’s seat, whether that be in a center console, a glovebox or under the passenger seat.

Gudvangen said if a seatbelt cutter isn’t an option and the seatbelts are malfunctioning, individuals will need to free themselves by wiggling out of restraints.

“You don’t want to sit there and give up. Just keep trying to get out of the vehicle as quickly as you can,” he said.

The protocol for exiting a car submerged in a body of water is similar. The most important goal is to get out as fast as possible.

Gudvangen said the Highway Patrol recommends drivers who are on a frozen body of water keep their doors unlocked to ensure an easy exit path. If the door isn’t an option, he said, open a window as quickly as possible because it will be the biggest egress out of the vehicle.

He said once the window is open there will be a large rush of water entering the vehicle, but once the water pressure has reached an equilibrium, an individual can sneak out. If there still isn’t a path of exit once the car is completely submerged, Gudvangen said opening a window or door will be extremely difficult.

He also mentioned that most seatbelt cutters have a window break on the end, which users can utilize by hitting it on one of the corners of a window to pop it out.

Another situation Gudvangen said drivers can potentially face is becoming stranded. He recommends if the car has no lights and is stuck in the lane of traffic, exit the vehicle and get as far away from the potential area of conflict as possible. If a car has no lights, other cars aren’t going to see it and can potentially cause a deadly crash.

Gudvangen did say to take that advice with a grain of salt. If the risk would be greater to exit the vehicle, then the best plan of safety is to remain inside. If temperatures are extremely low or if there is a winter storm, staying inside the vehicle is the best bet.

He also recommends keeping a winter survival kit with hats, gloves, portable heaters and candles within reach of the driver seat.

Though having a backup plan is important, Gudvangen said the best way to prevent one of these emergencies from occurring is to ensure proper vehicle maintenance. By checking all fluids and the tires, a driver can help prevent fire ignition from happening.

He also said one of the most important things to remember when exiting a vehicle during an emergency is to leave personal belongings behind and to focus on staying alive.

“Things are replaceable but people aren’t,” he said.