The present application provides a fire prevention shield for an internal combustion engine. The shield includes a shield baffle plate and a mounting means adapted to mount the shield baffle plate at a predetermined position with respect to a muffler of the engine, such that an air passage is located between the muffler and the shield baffle plate, the air passage having an air inlet opening located adjacent to the engine, wherein a cross-sectional area of the air passage is greatest at or near the air inlet opening.