WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VAN BRIEFLY LOST POWER. AT THE NEXT STOP SIGN I NOTICED WHITE STEAM OR SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER TURNING THE VAN CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER UNTIL I GOT PULLED OVER. AFTER GETTING MYSELF AND TWO OF MY CHILDREN OUT OF THE VAN THE SMOKE TURNED BLACK AND I KNEW IT WAS A FIRE. AS WE WALKED BACK TO A SAFE DISTANCE I COULD SEE FIRE DRIPPING OUT FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VAN. IT WAS SOON ENGULFED IN FIRE AND CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED TO PUT IT OUT. THE VAN WAS TOTALED.