Case Study: 1995 Ford Escort
Overview

The fire vehicle had limited bun and collision damage, facilitating the identification of origin and cause. (see larger photo)

A 1995 Ford Escort four-door sedan traveling on a four-lane, rural highway at 65 mph slowed and struck a 1997 GMC Sierra pickup truck from behind. The driver of the Escort apparently failed to notice in time that the truck in front of him had slowed to make a left turn. A small fire was noticed in and under the engine compartment within two minutes of impact. Witnesses described the fire as small, "like an oil lamp," that dripped burning material from the engine compartment to the ground below. The fire apparently burned for five to ten minutes and remained quite localized (within a small area of the engine compartment) before it was extinguished with a fire extinguisher. 

The fire was likely to have been fueled by engine oil or coolant that were released by impact high in the engine compartment. The cam cover was fractured during impact and had spilled oil onto the shielded exhaust manifold on the front of the transverse-mounted engine. Coolant from the breached radiator was also available. Dark discoloration and charring of the manifold and shield defined the most likely source and location of ignition. The fire did not spread beyond the small zone at the right front of the engine; damage was limited to local wiring and a plastic radiator tank.

Crush damage energy calculations showed that the Delta V for the Escort was 6 to 10 mph, and 2.5 to 4 mph for the GMC truck. The Escort sustained intrusion high in the engine compartment from a trailer hitch on the GMC truck. Damage to the truck was minimal and restricted to the rear bumper.

The driver of the Escort was not injured; his airbag deployed and he was belted. All four occupants of the GMC truck were belted and none were injured.