Peak summer months create a perfect storm for fire hazards around engines, whether you are running truck fleets, heavy construction equipment, pumps, generators, or rail support vehicles. High ambient temperatures, hot engine compartments, dry vegetation, and increased loads all combine to push systems closer to their ignition thresholds. At the same time, workers operating and maintaining this equipment face elevated heat stress, which can impair judgment and slow reaction times, further increasing fire risk. OSHA notes that millions of workers are exposed to dangerous levels of heat each year, and most outdoor heat-related fatalities occur in the first days of hot work as the body acclimatizes (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, n.d.). When engines are operating at full capacity in these conditions, small problems like fuel seepage, chafed wiring, or accumulated oil residue can escalate into under-hood fires much faster than in cooler seasons.

Fire data reinforces how significant engine-related fires are. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that highway vehicle fires account for approximately one in eight fires responded to by U.S. fire departments, a category that includes passenger vehicles, freight trucks, agricultural and construction vehicles (U.S. Fire Administration, 2018). NFPA research estimated an average of about 195,900 highway vehicle fires per year in the United States between 2018 and 2022, resulting in hundreds of deaths, more than a thousand injuries, and billions of dollars in direct property damage (McGree, 2024). These incidents are not limited to crashes. Failures in equipment or heat sources such as overheated engines, turbochargers, exhaust components, and electrical systems are a recurring ignition pathway in vehicle and equipment fires (U.S. Fire Administration, 2018).

Extreme heat amplifies both engine and human vulnerabilities. NIOSH explains that occupational heat stress arises from a combination of environmental heat, metabolic workload, and clothing or PPE, and that exposure to extreme heat can lead to illnesses and injuries, including burns from contact with hot surfaces and impaired cognitive function (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2024). In practical terms, this means a technician working near hot engines in August is more likely to become fatigued, miss early signs of fuel leaks, or brush against an exposed exhaust component. As heat stress builds, coordination and situational awareness decline, increasing the risk that a minor fault escalates into an engine compartment fire. Effective programs treat heat safety and fire safety as interconnected, not separate issues.

From a regulatory standpoint, OSHA’s fire prevention provisions stress controlling ignition sources and managing combustible materials around equipment. In construction, 29 CFR 1926.151 requires that combustible materials be stored with adequate clearance, that access routes remain clear for firefighting, and that potential ignition sources be controlled in areas where flammable or combustible materials are present (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 1979-b). While this standard often brings to mind open yard storage or hot work, the same principles apply to engine operations in summer: remove or minimize combustible buildup around engines, keep dry vegetation cleared from parking and staging areas, and ensure that fuel, lubricants, and hydraulic fluids are stored and handled correctly away from hot surfaces. The U.S. Fire Administration also emphasizes the importance of shutting off engines promptly when a fire is suspected and moving people away from the vehicle, reinforcing that occupants should never attempt to fight under-hood fires themselves (U.S. Fire Administration, n.d.).

A robust summer fire-prevention strategy around engines therefore integrates multiple layers. First, organizations must address heat stress in workers by implementing acclimatization, hydration, shaded rest breaks, and training on heat illness symptoms, as recommended by OSHA and NIOSH (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, n.d.-a; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2024). Second, they need systematic inspection routines for engines and equipment that are tightened during peak heat periods, with a focus on fuel system integrity, electrical harnesses, exhaust routing, and cleanliness of engine bays. Third, parking, staging, and refueling areas must be evaluated as fire environments themselves, particularly where dry grass, dust, and other combustibles can contact hot exhaust or catalytic components. Finally, emergency response procedures should be drilled so operators know how to shut down equipment, evacuate, and notify supervisors immediately if they smell fuel, see smoke, or notice abnormal engine temperatures.

For safety leaders in construction, transportation, logistics, rail support, and industrial operations, summer is not just “another season” it is a fire risk multiplier. Engine operations that are acceptable in mild weather can become hazardous when layered with triple-digit heat, direct sun, and non-acclimatized crews. Reviewing your fire prevention plan, heat illness program, and engine inspection practices together is one of the most effective ways to reduce incidents during peak summer operations.

If your organization is looking to strengthen fire prevention around vehicle and equipment engines, align procedures with OSHA and USFA guidance, and integrate heat safety into your overall risk strategy, Key Safety LLCcan help you build or update practical, field-ready programs.

References

McGree, T. (2024, October 31). Vehicle fires (Fire Statistical Report). National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/vehicle-fires

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2024, July 11). Heat stress and workers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/heat-stress/about/index.html

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.-a). Overview: Working in outdoor and indoor heat environments.U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure

Standard for Fire prevention. 29 C.F.R. § 1926.151 (1979). https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.151

U.S. Fire Administration. (2018, July). Highway vehicle fires (2014–2016) (Topical Fire Report Series, Vol. 19, Issue 2). U.S. Fire Administration. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v19i2.pdf

U.S. Fire Administration. (n.d.). Vehicle fire safety. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/vehicle-fires/