I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 FORD ESCAPE FOR ABOUT 10 MIN. ON WHITNEY MILL RRD. IN ONTARIO COUNTY NEW YORK. WHEN I GOT AN ALERT ON MY DASH BOARD. IT SAID ENGINE OVER HEATING PULL OVER ( OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES) I LOOK DOWN AT THE TEMPETURE GAGE AS I WAS PULLING OVER. THE NEEDLE WAS IN PERFECT POSITION BETWEEN HOT AND COLD. AFTER I STOOPED ( ABOUT 30 SECONDS AT T HE MOST) I GOT OUT, OPEN THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES COMING UP IN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND FIREWALL. I INSTRUCTED MY WIFE TO GET HERSELF AND THE DOG OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THEN I BEGAN THROWING SNOW ONTO THE AREA WHERE THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM. IN MY OPINION KEEPING THE FIRE CONTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVENTUALLY SHOW UP ( GUESSING 15 MIN.) THEY TOOK OVER FROM THAT POINT. SPRAYED FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON THE ENGINE AND REMOVE PIECES OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO GET A BETTER LOOK AT THE FIRE AND MAKE SURE IT WAS OUT. THEN A TOW TRUCK CAME AND TOOK IT AWAY.