Fire system mistake covers cars in foam at Taiwanese supermarket parking lot

Shoppers at the Wan Jia Fu supermarket's Jingguo store in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, experienced an unusual situation when the parking lot's fire suppression system unexpectedly activated, blanketing parked cars in a thick layer of white foam. The incident occurred around midday, a busy time for customers purchasing items for the upcoming Ghost Festival. Images circulating online showed cars covered in foam, prompting some netizens to joke about receiving a complimentary "foam car wash" with their festival shopping. The system released large amounts of fire-retardant foam from sprinkler heads, quickly covering the vehicles and the parking lot floor. Customers present at the time were seen moving away from the foamy scene. Fire suppression foam typically contains surfactants designed to suppress flames and differs from the neutral cleaning foams used in car detailing. Automotive detailing professionals have cautioned that prolonged exposure of car paint to this type of foam, especially if left to dry, could increase the risk of paint damage and spotting. The cause of the system's accidental activation remains unclear.