Shock figures from London Fire Brigade add to concern over Vauxhall Zafiras

Fire: a Zafira burst into flames near the level crossing at North Sheen station
Laura Kerr/PA Wire
Hannah Al-Othman19 November 2015

Firefighters have had to put out 71 Vauxhall Zafira blazes in London in the past two years as a campaigner called for more action over the vehicles.

London Fire Brigade has released figures showing it attended 71 fires involving the vehicles - not including arson attacks - since 2013, compared to 38 in the previous four years.

Vauxhall is writing to 220,000 Zafira B owners to ask them to arrange for their car's heating and ventilation system to be inspected by a local dealer.

The manufacturer said the root cause of the fires is improper repair of the heater fan resistor's thermal fuse, which protects the system.

Sue Freemantle, 37, who is leading an online campaign for concerned Zafira drivers across the UK, said she was alarmed by the LFB figures.

"I think it's shocking," she said. "Every Zafira should be taken off the road until they find the root cause.

"Just last month alone, from what I have on my record, we've got 21 car fires."

Her campaign has received reports of more than 200 Zafira fires in total.

Mrs Freemantle, from Ivybridge, in Devon, launched the campaign after her own Zafira caught fire in September.

She managed to escape with three of her children moments before the vehicle burst into flames.

"My fear is somebody leaves their child in the car to go and pay for their petrol and all of a sudden something starts then," she explained. "There's no reason why that couldn't happen.

"My husband quickly ran in the house to get changed and I luckily was in the car and noticed the car was steaming up.

"The children wouldn't have noticed so God knows what would have happened [if I wasn't there].

"Our worst fear is that a child dies. It sends shivers down my spine because it's the one thing I dread to think."

The Brigade has warned Zafira drivers to beware of a smell of smoke while driving.

LFB's director of operations Dave Brown said: "If you smell smoke or burning coming from your car while you're driving it, you should pull over as soon as you can in a safe place, get everyone out of the vehicle and always stay a safe distance away.

"Then call the fire brigade and never go back to the vehicle while you're waiting.

"If you are concerned that your vehicle is affected by the recall then contact your manufacturer immediately."

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