What to do after a lighter explodes in the car?

[MakaylaMarie]

The liquid in the lighter expands when heated and contracts when cooled, causing the shell to fail under the immense pressure. Additionally, external environmental factors or handling may alter the lighter's internal pressure. Check for casualties and seek medical attention promptly.

[LeMax]

That day I witnessed a colleague's car lighter explode in person. The first reaction was to immediately pull over and turn off the engine. Whatever you do, don't rush to touch the shattered parts—the temperature is extremely high and can cause severe burns. Opening all doors and windows for ventilation is the top priority since the gas inside lighters is toxic; inhaling too much can cause dizziness and nausea. Check if there are any flames emerging, and if so, use the fire extinguisher from the trunk to spray it. When cleaning up the fragments, wear thick gloves and pick them up slowly—some plastic edges are sharper than blades. Finally, remember to drive to a repair shop to check the wiring; last time, even the air conditioning control panel in that car short-circuited from the explosion. Honestly, it's best not to keep lighters in the car at all.

[VonNaomi]

I learned this lesson the hard way last month. I parked by the roadside to buy water, and when I returned, the passenger seat was covered in white fragments. I immediately emptied everything from the car to inspect it, paying special attention to the seat seams and under the floor mats for any sparks. I used half a bottle of disinfectant alcohol to clean the sticky oil stains, only to find a small burn mark on the dashboard. The worst part was the lingering smell—even after two days of air freshener, it wouldn’t go away. I finally had to leave coffee grounds in the car for a week to neutralize the odor. Now I’ve wised up—I keep a heat-resistant storage box in the car during summer, storing my sunglasses and power bank inside. It’s much safer than leaving them exposed to direct sunlight.

[SanIan]

Professional handling requires a three-step process: after safe disposal, check for three major hazards. First, inspect whether the burned area has damaged the wiring—last time, a customer had melted cigarette lighter wiring. Then, check for deformed interior trim; I once handled a case where the steering wheel trim was blown outward. Finally, replace the air filter—lighter dust sucked into the ducts is extremely difficult to clean. Remember not to use a wet cloth to wipe electronic device residues; last time, someone used a wet wipe on the screen and caused a direct short circuit.