NHTSA Complaint #10425795 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

WE USED THE FORD EXPLORER EALIER IN THE DAY TO VISIT LOCAL RELATIVES. WE PARKED THE CAR IN OUR ATTACHED GARAGE AT AROUND 4PM THAT DAY. WE WERE WOKEN UP AROUND 1AM TO NOISES COMING FROM THE GARAGE. UPON OPENING THE GARAGE DOOR FROM OUR LAUNDRY ROOM, I FOUND THE HOOD OF THE FORD EXPLORER IN FLAMES. I SLAMMED THE LAUNDRY ROOM DOOR AND PROCEEDED TO GET OUR 3 YR OLD SON OUT FROM HIS ROOM THAT IS LOCATED ABOVE THE GARAGE AND OUT OF THE HOUSE. MY HUSBAND ALSO WENT INTO THE GARAGE TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BY THEN THE TRUCK WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THERE WAS NO CHANCE.THE FIRE WAS TOO BIG BY THEN AND BEING THAT OUR GAS WATER HEATER WAS LOCATED NEXT TO THE VEHICLE, HE QUICKLY EXITED THE GARAGE BUT DID RECEIVE 2ND - 3RD DEGREE BURNS TO HIS HANDS, FEET AND RIGHT FLANK OF HIS BACK. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED ON SCENE, THE GARAGE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE GARAGE, THE SUPPORT BEAMS FOR THE SECOND FLOOR ABOVE THE GARAGE AND THE LAUNDRY ROOM. ALSO, THE ENTIRE FIRST FLOOR HAS SMOKE AND WATER DAMAGE AND THE SECOND FLOOR IS MOSTLY SMOKE DAMAGE. *TT