Be very careful out there ...

This is something we hope you don't need to know. But just in case … it's good to be prepared.

1) My car caught on fire last month (a small animal - maybe a squirrel? - had made a nest in the air filter, and the leaves apparently ignited as I was driving). I'd just pulled into a parking lot, and saw smoke billowing from under the hood. I turned off the engine, got out and called the fire department. I didn't open the hood, figuring that would fan the flames. And when the firefighters got there (very quickly) they were extremely cautious about opening the hood.

2) The next week a car on a local interstate caught on fire, and the driver died. (I sound like the dad in "Freaks and Geeks" - but he knew how to get a point across)

3) Shortly after that there was a national news report about a recent rash of car fires - set by people wanting insurance payouts.

4) When I was leaving Disney World last week, there was a major vehicle fire - likely a Disney bus - on one of the highways leading out of the property. Very frightening. Bad things aren't supposed to happen at Disney World ...


This link from the National Fire Prevention Association advises what to do if you are involved in a car fire. Stop the car. Don't open the hood. Move at least 100 feet away. Call for emergency help. Don't be a hero. The site says, "Vehicle fires can be tricky, even for firefighters."