What is the most common cause of vehicle fires?

The most common cause of vehicle fires is related to leaking or spilled fluids. When fuels or oils leak from their intended systems within a vehicle, they can create a highly flammable environment, especially when they come into contact with ignition sources such as hot surfaces, electrical sparks, or open flames. These fluids can easily ignite, leading to rapid fire spread, particularly in confined spaces where flames can propagate quickly due to the presence of additional combustible materials.

While electrical faults, defective tires, and overheating engines can also lead to fires, they are not as prevalent as the issue of leaking or spilled fluids. Electrical faults can cause short circuits, which can ignite a fire, but they are often less common than fluid leaks. Defective tires primarily cause accidents rather than directly leading to fires, and while overheating engines can create conditions for fire, they usually require specific circumstances to ignite a fire, which fluid leaks can readily provide. Thus, the high incidence of vehicle fires stemming from fluid-related issues makes leaking or spilled fluids the primary cause in this context.