Tuesday, July 13, 2010 My engine company was dispatched to a vehicle fire in a convenience store parking lot. We arrived to find a 1990 Cadillac Eldorado with the engine compartment involved. After extinguishing the engine compartment fire, heavy smoke started rolling out of the passenger-side dash area. We were able to quickly extinguish the remaining fire in the dash. While my engine crew was loading hose, I was collecting information for my report and to give the on-call investigator who was enroute. I heard a police officer ask how many miles were on the vehicle, so I thought the investigator might also need that info. We had not disconnected the battery and the fire had been out for at least 15 minutes. I leaned into the driver's seat, with my feet still on the pavement outside and put the key in the ignition. I turned it and no dash lights came on. As I started to turn the key back to the off position, the driver's side airbag deployed. I felt it hit and then heard the "pop". The next thing I knew, I was stumbling around outside the vehicle, my ears were ringing, and I felt like I had been hit in the jaw by a truck. I know the dangers of airbag canisters, gas struts, hydrogen cells, poly gas tanks, etc. during a car fire, but I was under the mistaken impression that once the vehicle had cooled for a while that the danger of airbag deployment was gone. Luckily, I did not lose consciousness and came away with only a fractured nose and some facial bruises.

LESSONS LEARNED: Disconnect the battery and wait! Treat every damaged vehicle the same, whether the damage is from fire or from a collision. I would never have entered that car without the battery disconnected if this had been an extrication. Physical damage is easy to see, but think about the hidden damage. Don't get complacent about "routine" vehicle fires. I've seen many airbags deploy during a fire, but never after the car had cooled. Thankfully, I'm here as a witness that they CAN and WILL deploy unexpectedly at anytime! There's nothing like an ER doctor telling you "you're lucky to be alive" to make you really appreciate the dangers that we tend to take for granted.