Can You Open the Hood to Extinguish a Fire in the Engine Compartment?

[Diego]

You should not open the hood to extinguish a fire in the engine compartment. If the engine compartment is on fire, keeping the hood closed limits the entry of air, preventing the fire from growing. Opening the hood allows a large amount of air to enter, which contains oxygen that can fuel the fire, causing it to spread more rapidly. The correct approach is: Quickly turn off the engine and use a covering method or a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Stand upwind, keep as far away from the fire as possible, and aim the fire extinguisher at the source of the fire. When fighting the fire, the correct actions include: Remove any synthetic fiber clothing, protect exposed skin, and avoid breathing through your mouth or shouting loudly.