Choose the parking surface before you shut the engine off

The simplest prevention step is to keep hot vehicle components away from dry vegetation.

  1. 01
    Stay on designated roads and parking areas

    Use pavement, gravel, bare mineral soil, or a developed parking area where dry grass and brush are not touching the underside of the vehicle.

  2. 02
    Look under the entire vehicle, not just under the tires

    Tall grass can reach exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, mufflers, skid plates, and other hot areas even when the tire tracks look clear.

  3. 03
    Check the trailer connection if you are towing

    Safety chains, breakaway cables, jacks, or other metal hardware should not drag on the road and create sparks.

  4. 04
    Respect local fire restrictions and closures

    Public-land rules can change quickly during hot, dry, windy periods. Use the current instructions for the park, forest, BLM area, county, or state you are visiting.

Stop and get help

Do not move deeper into dry vegetation because the first spot feels crowded

A hot exhaust system can ignite vegetation underneath the vehicle, and a fire can spread before the driver notices smoke. If a designated parking area is full, find another legal cleared location rather than improvising a parking space in tall dry grass.

This risk is real enough to shape wildfire guidance across the West

The Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service repeatedly warn drivers not to park over dry grass because hot exhaust components can ignite vegetation. Vehicle-caused fires have also been linked to dragging chains and hot material from mechanical failures.

The risk matters most when vegetation is cured and dry, humidity is low, wind is strong, and the vehicle has just been driven under load. Pickups, SUVs, RVs, tow vehicles, and off-highway vehicles can all place hot components above vegetation depending on ground clearance and terrain.

Before leaving a roadside or trailhead parking spot

  • Look back under the vehicle for smoke, glowing material, or vegetation caught against hot components.
  • Confirm trailer chains and hardware are secured high enough to avoid dragging.
  • Do not discard cigarettes, matches, or hot material from the vehicle.
  • If local guidance recommends carrying a fire extinguisher, shovel, or water for remote travel, make sure the equipment is accessible.
  • If you see a fire starting, move people to safety and report it immediately using the local emergency instructions rather than attempting an unsafe vehicle recovery.