AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND FIRE INVESTIGATOR, MYSELF AND OTHER FIRE INVESTIGATORS ARE EXPERIENCING A RASH OF FIRES LATELY IN 1992 AND 1993 LINCOLN TOWNCARS. FIRES SEEM TO ORIGINATE IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IN MOST INSTANCES, THE VEHICLES ARE PARKED FOR 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR BEFORE FIRE IS NOTICED. WE HAVE SEEN APPROXIMATELY 15 SUCH OCCURRENCES. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT THE FAILURE MECHANISM MAY BE.