Car in flames on the A1: driver saves himself in time!

Car in flames on the A1: driver saves himself in time!

on Saturday evening, May 10, 2025, a spectacular car fire occurred on the A1 in the direction of Bremen. According to reports from the Weser courier and the press portal, the driver of a five-year-old Mercedes reported smoke from the engine compartment at around 9:15 p.m. and a sudden drop in performance. The 29-year-old man from the Verden district reacted prudently, steered his vehicle onto the hard shoulder in good time and left it unharmed before it got into full fire.

The Wildeshausen volunteer fire brigade was immediately alerted and moved out with three vehicles and 19 emergency services. Despite their rapid use, the firefighters could not prevent the Mercedes from burning out completely. The adjacent side strip also caught fire, which required additional extinguishing work. Fortunately, everyone involved was unharmed, and the low traffic density did not lead to major traffic disruptions.

cause of fire and damage

The police estimate the damage to property at around 25,000 euros and, according to initial knowledge, assumes a technical defect as the cause of the fire. This assessment reflects a common cause of the fire of vehicles, which is also underpinned by various statistics. According to the GDV, 14,200 comprehensive cars burned in Germany in 2023, the causes of which ranged from arson to technical defects.

The average cost of a vehicle fire amounts to around 7,100 euros, with car insurers in the past paid over 100 million euros for vehicle fires. A fire can undoubtedly have significant financial consequences, and it is important to be aware of the insurance opportunities. A vehicle fire is replaced by the partial comprehensive insurance, while the vehicle liability insurance does not pay compensation.

safety precautions and challenges

The causes of fire can vary, with many vehicle fires caused by mechanical damage or external factors such as vandalism. Electric cars, an increasingly important vehicle category, are also challenging for firefighters. In the event of a fire of electric vehicles, problems such as "Thermal Runaway" can occur, which can lead to extreme overheating and causes difficult to delete fires.

The fire brigade must apply special strategies in order to combat burning batteries efficiently. The need for long -term cooling with water is particularly important to curb the fire risk. Firefighters are increasingly prepared for the challenges that electric car fires bring with them in order to be able to react quickly and effectively in an emergency. With modern safety precautions and technology, the fire risk of these vehicles is minimized.

The incident on the A1 is an impressive example of the unpredictable risks that can occur when driving a car, and underlines the importance of the rapid reaction by both drivers and rescue workers.

Weser-Kurier | Presseportal | GDV