My car caught on FIRE last nite!!!
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Minnesota
My car caught on FIRE last nite!!!
Since selling my GS400, i purchased a S500 & a 95 nissan altima. The altima is the car i use to travel for my work. That is the car that caught on fire last nite.
I started smelling smoke and electrical smoke for about 15 minutes while driving last nite. I pulled up to the casino hotel and decided to look under the hood. i popped the hood, and flames started coming out from under the hood near the passenger headlight. I ran back to the drivers side, shut the car off.
Then i realized that i had my company laptop, some very important work papers, and my gf's suitcase in the car. So i grabbed all that stuff and then took out my phone and was gonna dial 911 but this guy was walking past my car and i said "he becareful my car is on fire."
But instead of running away, he tried to put the fire out w/ his gloves but it only got worse, so i ran to the valet and the guy was just coming out and saw me and the flames over my shoulder, he raced back w/ the fire extinguisher. At some point i dialed 911 but i dont remember when. The valet guy put the fire out with the fire extinguisher.
Amazingly, the first guy w/ the gloves stayed by my car the whole time. He even held the hood open while valet sprayed the fire extinguisher on the flames that were about 3 to 4 feet high. The firemen arived about 2 minutes later. Turned out that i had a electrical short at my headlight and thats what started the fire. The firemen said that if that fire had been lasting about 2 more minutes the whole car could have gone up. They said my car is still driveable, but i have no headlights.
I am so thankful for the good samaritan, i think his name was mike, and the valet, his name was justin, at the Harrahs Casino Hotel
I started smelling smoke and electrical smoke for about 15 minutes while driving last nite. I pulled up to the casino hotel and decided to look under the hood. i popped the hood, and flames started coming out from under the hood near the passenger headlight. I ran back to the drivers side, shut the car off.
Then i realized that i had my company laptop, some very important work papers, and my gf's suitcase in the car. So i grabbed all that stuff and then took out my phone and was gonna dial 911 but this guy was walking past my car and i said "he becareful my car is on fire."
But instead of running away, he tried to put the fire out w/ his gloves but it only got worse, so i ran to the valet and the guy was just coming out and saw me and the flames over my shoulder, he raced back w/ the fire extinguisher. At some point i dialed 911 but i dont remember when. The valet guy put the fire out with the fire extinguisher.
Amazingly, the first guy w/ the gloves stayed by my car the whole time. He even held the hood open while valet sprayed the fire extinguisher on the flames that were about 3 to 4 feet high. The firemen arived about 2 minutes later. Turned out that i had a electrical short at my headlight and thats what started the fire. The firemen said that if that fire had been lasting about 2 more minutes the whole car could have gone up. They said my car is still driveable, but i have no headlights.
I am so thankful for the good samaritan, i think his name was mike, and the valet, his name was justin, at the Harrahs Casino Hotel
you tell me 
Out of Warranty
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,925
Likes: 13
From: Houston, Republic of Texas
Great to hear everyone's OK! What a great guy Mike is! He and the valet, Justin are real heroes for saving your car at considerable personal risk. Engine compartment fires can be extremely dangerous, not just because of gasoline - usually the gas tank is well away from the ignition source, as it's designed to be. The immediate danger, even to professional firefighters, is an exploding tire. Even the pros give them a wide berth. If you attempt to fight an underhood fire, be sure to stand in FRONT of the car, away from the wheel wells. It takes a lot of heat to burst a tire, but the result is like a mortar round landing between your toes.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,410
Likes: 249
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
That valet should, IMO, receive a commendation from the fire department or the mayor. Run this story by one of the local news organizations and see if they will print it in local papers. If they do, you might even make some money yourself on the deal.
On another note, it is possible that a crook tried to steal one or both your headlights, and just gave up fror some reason and left loose wires in the assembly. Check the other light as well. Nissan has had trouble on some recent models ( mostly the Maxima ) with headlights and headlight bulbs being easily stolen by theives, and the Maxima and Altima share some parts and assemblies.
On another note, it is possible that a crook tried to steal one or both your headlights, and just gave up fror some reason and left loose wires in the assembly. Check the other light as well. Nissan has had trouble on some recent models ( mostly the Maxima ) with headlights and headlight bulbs being easily stolen by theives, and the Maxima and Altima share some parts and assemblies.
Last edited by mmarshall; Dec 2, 2005 at 02:21 PM.
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Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by mmarshall
That valet should, IMO, receive a commendation from the fire department or the mayor. Run this story by one of the local news organizations and see if they will print it in local papers. If they do, you might even make some money yourself on the deal.
On another note, it is possible that a crook tried to steal one or both your headlights, and just gave up fror some reason and left loose wires in the assembly. Check the other light as well. Nissan has had trouble on some recent models ( mostly the Maxima ) with headlights and headlight bulbs being easily stolen by theives, and the Maxima and Altima share some parts and assemblies.
On another note, it is possible that a crook tried to steal one or both your headlights, and just gave up fror some reason and left loose wires in the assembly. Check the other light as well. Nissan has had trouble on some recent models ( mostly the Maxima ) with headlights and headlight bulbs being easily stolen by theives, and the Maxima and Altima share some parts and assemblies.
Wow, that guy Mike deserved a dinner at the restaurant of his choice for him and a significant other!
And Justin deserves a HUGE tip!
Glad it wasn't worse than it was.
Glad everyone's ok too!!
And Justin deserves a HUGE tip!
Glad it wasn't worse than it was.
Glad everyone's ok too!!
