WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND NOTICED A SMALL WISP OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. WE EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK THE PLASTIC COVER OFF THE STEERING COLUMN AND INVESTIGATED. SEEING NO MORE SMOKE WE FIGURED A FUSE HAD BLOWN OR SOME SUCH AND TOOK A SHORT BREAK FROM DRIVING. WE GOT BACK IN THE VAN AND STARTED OFF DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND FOR 30 MILES OR SO NO PROBLEMS. SUDDENLY WE NOTICED THE SMOKE AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THERE WAS A SMALL CIGARETTE LIGHTER TYPE FLAME COMING FROM THE TURN SIGNAL BOX ON THE COLUMN. WE IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE NEXT EXIT AND PARKED ON THE EXIT RAMP. WE TRIED MANGO JUICE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WHICH WORKED FOR A SHORT TIME BUT THEN THE FIRE WAS BACK. WE CALLED 911 AND BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD GET THERE (APPROX. 2-3 MINUTES) THE SMALL LITTLE FLAME HAD GROWN TO CONSUME THE ENTIRE CAR IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DEMOLISHED BY THE FIRE. *TR