Ford may offer fire suppression to police
August 6, 2003
BY JOCELYN PARKER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Ford Motor Co. is expected to announce Thursday that it will offer fire suppression technology on its Crown Victoria police cars in an attempt to prevent deadly fuel-tank fires after high-speed, rear collisions.
Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley declined to provide details about the planned announcement, but the company said Ford engineers have recently tested fire suppression technologies, which use a liquid-based foam to prevent fires after rear collisions.
Ford recently told the Free Press it selected Aerojet -- an aerospace and defense company based in Sacramento, Calif. -- as its vendor and it has worked with the company to develop the technology for police use. According to Ford, the system would use technology similar to an air-bag deployment system to release fire suppression chemicals.
The technologies are the latest safeguard Ford will offer for Crown Victoria police cars. Roughly a year ago, Ford said it would put plastic fuel-tank shields on 350,000 Crown Victoria Police Interceptors on the road. The shields are designed to go around the gas tank and ensure that suspension and other components do not rupture the tank.
Ford is also offering Trunk Packs -- intended to hold sharp items -- to police departments as a way to protect the fuel tank from puncture. The City of Dallas said last month that the Trunk Packs may increase the amount of fuel leakage during some accidents -- a claim Ford denies.
The Crown Victoria has been the subject of lawsuits and a federal investigation due to fuel-tank fires following high-speed, rear collisions. About 85 percent of all police departments and state troopers use the vehicles.
Fuel-tank fires after rear collisions have killed at least 18 officers over the past several years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed an investigation on the Crown Victoria last year after it found the vehicles met current standards for fuel-system integrity.
Clarence Ditlow, Center for Auto Safety executive director, said fire suppression is probably one of the better alternatives.
"It has great promise," he said.
August 6, 2003
BY JOCELYN PARKER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
Ford Motor Co. is expected to announce Thursday that it will offer fire suppression technology on its Crown Victoria police cars in an attempt to prevent deadly fuel-tank fires after high-speed, rear collisions.
Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley declined to provide details about the planned announcement, but the company said Ford engineers have recently tested fire suppression technologies, which use a liquid-based foam to prevent fires after rear collisions.
Ford recently told the Free Press it selected Aerojet -- an aerospace and defense company based in Sacramento, Calif. -- as its vendor and it has worked with the company to develop the technology for police use. According to Ford, the system would use technology similar to an air-bag deployment system to release fire suppression chemicals.
The technologies are the latest safeguard Ford will offer for Crown Victoria police cars. Roughly a year ago, Ford said it would put plastic fuel-tank shields on 350,000 Crown Victoria Police Interceptors on the road. The shields are designed to go around the gas tank and ensure that suspension and other components do not rupture the tank.
Ford is also offering Trunk Packs -- intended to hold sharp items -- to police departments as a way to protect the fuel tank from puncture. The City of Dallas said last month that the Trunk Packs may increase the amount of fuel leakage during some accidents -- a claim Ford denies.
The Crown Victoria has been the subject of lawsuits and a federal investigation due to fuel-tank fires following high-speed, rear collisions. About 85 percent of all police departments and state troopers use the vehicles.
Fuel-tank fires after rear collisions have killed at least 18 officers over the past several years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed an investigation on the Crown Victoria last year after it found the vehicles met current standards for fuel-system integrity.
Clarence Ditlow, Center for Auto Safety executive director, said fire suppression is probably one of the better alternatives.
"It has great promise," he said.