What could make a parked car burst into flames in the dead of night?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

So.

I live in a condo complex. We all have our own designated parking spots.

This morning, just before four, I was awakened by a car horn. I thought it was a car alarm, but it was droning, as if someone were leaning on it. It stopped after a minute or so.

Moments later, I heard a “whoosh” or “bang”. I got up and went to the window.

The front end of the SUV/truck two spaces down from my car (with nothing in the intervening space) was ablaze.

I immediately called 911, but someone had already called it in. At first I stayed put because I thought that was safest, but a few minutes later the police rang my bell and asked me to come outside, along with the other neighbors in my building (eight condos a building) in case an ember landed on the roof or something. So I came out in my thick robe but barefoot :smack:. They told us to get farther behind the building in case it blew…that was the danger, that it would reach the gas tank and it would blow up. A few minutes later, the firemen arrived and started putting it out–no explosion. I told them and the fire investigator everything I just told you guys.

Nobody was hurt–the most important thing. My car had nothing worse than soot (just took it to the car wash), but the car right next to it suffered serious heat damage. But the funny thing is…I don’t think the owner of the SUV or the owner of the car next to it were around. At least, no one was out there yelling, “Jesus Christ, my car!!!” and the heat-damaged one was still there this morning–no sign of insurance photographers or anything that I could see before I left for work. Then again, I don’t know my neighbors well–I’m out and about so much with my caregiving duties for my mother and other things that I’m afraid I don’t have much time to talk to them. Except for the new-ish downstairs neighbors, a middle-aged couple…they helped me when some kids took the Amazon package off my front step (twice!) and flung it out into the parking lot by taking it in until I got home and looked for it. I’ve talked to them quite a few times and they’re nice. (They weren’t home and it wasn’t their car.)

But what in God’s name could cause a parked car, not turned on, to catch fire in the middle of the night? I’ve been reading some reports of parked BMWs catching fire, but I don’t know if this was a BMW. One of my co-workers suggests that maybe a squirrel/cat/raccoon/what-have-you got into it and chewed on the wires. Then, of course, there’s always the possibility of foul play…

So what do you guys think?

2

I’m familiar with a car catching fire because the carburetor leaked. I presume gas came into contact with the hot engine.

3

Well, that’s the thing…would it still be hot if the car had been turned off all night? I’m no mechanic…:o Then again, I didn’t notice if it the car had been there when I came home from work after 9 PM.

4

Short circuit can cause a lot of heat and or sparks which can cause fires. Especially if there is a gas leak as well.

5

This time of year a hot engine parked over dry leaves can cause them to catch fire. Are you sure all of your neighbors came out? Maybe they got home late, were extremely tired, immediately fell asleep & didn’t hear the cops knocking?

OTOH, if the car was parked for some time & was cool I’d think vandalism.

6

My cousin on Facebook mentioned the possibility of leaves, but I don’t think there were any. As for what you say about the neighbors, the cops were pretty thorough, but there’s always the possibility. I believe the car was parked for most of the night, but then again, as I said, it may or may not have been there when I got home…it’s just one of those things you don’t really register.

7

I wonder if the car horn I first heard was due to a short circuit…

8

looks at username

Incendio?

9

:smiley:

10

Debt collection.

11

There was a thread about a car suddenly bursting into flames while parked outside a restaurant. Many of the posters guessed a short either at the battery itself or wiring.

Also, whether the car was there or not when you came home is irrelevant. The owner could have gone out and come back minutes before it caught fire. Not everyone has a 9-5 job and 10pm bedtime. At one point, I used to get home from work about 6pm, then get called to go to the bar at 10pm and stay till the 2am closing. Rinse and repeat several times a week.

12

I wonder whether the owner had left his/her cell phone charging and the Li battery started the fire?

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

13

Insurance fraud is a fun game, too.

14

Somebody overfilled the tank on a hot day…

Dennis

15

Was it a Ford? Massive Ford Recall to Fix Fire Hazard

16

or GM? https://money.cnn.com/2015/10/27/autos/gm-recall-fire/

17

:smiley:

18

While perhaps thrown out in jest, “debt collection” and “insurance fraud” are real possibilities. About two years ago I woke up at 2 a.m. to a car on fire across the street. After calling 911 I went out to see if anyone needed help. No. The fire department arrived and got things under control. The vehicle owner, whom I know, was there and we were talking. The lead firefighter came over and asked how it started. My neighbor said he didn’t know. The vehicle had been there for several hours and he and his wife were awoken by the light from the flames.

I case it’s not coming across: I thought this really suspicious.

I have no idea what happened after this. I figured it wasn’t my business to ask my neighbor any follow-up questions.

19

Or a Hyundai?
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a27053460/nhtsa-investigation-hyundai-kia-fires/

Or a BMW?

20

I have seen this happen to a parked car as well - in this case, due to a battery short circuit. The car had been parked for ages and then suddenly - foosh! - smoke and flame from under the hood. Don’t remember the make and model, but no one had been near the car.