I WAS WALKING OUT TO MY CAR AFTER LEAVING A STORE. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT FOR NO MORE THAN 20MIN. I GOT TO MY CAR AND BEFORE I STARTED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR AS WELL AS THE DISTINCT SMELL ASSOCIATED WITH AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I RUSHED BACK INTO THE STORE ASKING IF THEY HAD A HOSE OR A BUCKET. THEY HAD A PARTIALLY FILLED WATER JUG THAT THEY LET ME USE. I WENT BACK OUT TO THE CAR AND NOTICED THAT THE SMOKE WAS BEGINNING TO INTENSIFY. I ALSO NOTICED THAT SPARKS WERE BEGINNING TO FLY OUT OF THE AREA. I DOUSED THE AREA IN WATER TO QUELL ANY FIRE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENT (AT THIS POINT THERE WERE NO VISIBLE FLAMES BUT PLENTY OF SMOKE). I THEN QUICKLY ACCESSED THE BATTERY LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND, USING A MULTI-TOOL, WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE SMOKE HAD ONCE AGAIN INTENSIFIED AND I USED THE REMAINING WATER LEFT IN THE JUG. HOWEVER, THE SMOKE CONTINUED. I QUICKLY WENT BACK INTO THE STORE AND FILLED THE WATER JUG WITH MORE WATER (I NEEDED TO BE QUICK SO I ONLY PARTIALLY FILLED THE JUG, ABOUT 1/8 OF TOTAL CAPACITY). WHEN I GOT BACK TO MY CAR THE SMOKE WAS STILL INCREASING BUT AT A LESSER RATE FROM WHEN THE BATTERY WAS CONNECTED. I DOUSED THE ALTERNATOR AND AREA AROUND IT WITH ALL OF THE WATER IN THE JUG. AT THIS POINT THE SMOKE HAD STOPPED BUT THE AREA WAS STILL VERY HOT. I REFILLED THE JUG AND DOU