A commercial vehicle fire blocked northbound I-15 outside of Baker, California, for hours on Monday afternoon, which left some drivers stuck in the desert heat. Mechanics say it's important to prepare your car for the summer heat.

Las Vegas

A commercial vehicle fire caused significant delays on a major freeway outside Baker, California, leaving drivers stranded in intense desert heat. In response, mechanics emphasize the importance of preparing vehicles for summer conditions, including checking tire pressure, fluid levels, and ensuring the air conditioning system is functioning properly.

Experts from AAA also recommend keeping a well-stocked emergency kit in vehicles, including water, snacks, and essential tools, as breakdowns in remote areas can quickly become dangerous. Drivers are urged to bring more water than they think necessary and to address any signs of vehicle trouble promptly to prevent being caught unprepared in extreme temperatures.

Mechanics say preparing your car for summer is crucial

When you're hopping in the car, you probably don't expect to be stuck there for hours due to a freeway closure or worse, a car fire. That's why mechanics say it's important to be prepared for anything that can get thrown your way in the heat of the summer. Can you ever be too prepared, especially in the heat? Never. Jeff Carhonen owns Wally's Precision Auto Care in the Central Valley and says preparing your car for sizzling desert summer starts with taking it to the shop and getting it checked. Make sure your tire pressures are where they're supposed to be. Check all your fluids. If you're having car problems, don't just think you're going to make it because you're not. Carhonen tells me checking your fluids is key because your car can easily overheat without enough, but he tells me overheating isn't what usually leads to car fires. A lot of car fires happen because of an electrical issue, a short, that basically causes a spark, that causes something that then in turn ignites. Carhonen says a bigger concern for him is being prepared for the desert in case you're stuck for hours. Pack water, pack things, you know, that you can get rags wet, things like that to keep you cool. But yeah, being in the heat, it'll get you pretty fast. People head down to Southern California all the time, vice versa. They think it's only a three, four hour drive. It'll be quick, but then all of a sudden they're stuck there. What's some advice for drivers that you guys have at AAA? AAA definitely recommends you maintain a well-stocked emergency kit in your car just in case of an incident like you had the other day. Doug Johnson with AAA tells me that should include flashlights, batteries, phone chargers, flares, jumper cables, and most importantly, drinking water and snacks for people and pets. You never know exactly what's going to happen there on the road, and you may not always be stuck near a convenience store. So it is important to make sure you have these things in your car. And making sure your A.C. is in tip-top shape is crucial, whether you're just driving around the valley or on a road trip. Waiting on a cooling system problem for even a couple days could be catastrophic. It's always about preparation, and if you see something, temperature gauge, fluid on the ground, things like that, get it looked at. Bottom line, even if you think you're only going to be gone a short time, always bring more water than you think you need, as well as some snacks and some shade in your car, because you can never be too prepared. Reporting in Las Vegas, I'm Guy Tonnenbaum.

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