A couple of weeks ago we had a Box Alarm for a car fire next to a building. As the BC, I was coming down the street and the first due engine was pulling off a line to extinguish the well involved car when there was a large fire ball from the engine compartment. Two guys went down , when I walked up the one fire fighter was burned on the side of his face and covered in fluid. We were speculating if it was oil from the oil pan, brake fluid or transmission fluid. After extinguishment a closer look revealed the engine block had failed in numerous places. It looked like some type of carbon fiber. It was a Dodge Charger and I contacted them and they said the block was made out of aluminum.
This gives me concern because we are seeing a rise in new car fires for insurance purposes and our members need to take care if this is how aluminum will react in a fire situation. There were three holes where I could look right inside the engine block so we figured whent he block failed it erupted the oil which ignited and caused the fire ball.
They are building houses and cars cheaper these days. We had a lot of guys with long years of experience there that evening and none of us had ever seen this before.
