ON 06/30/99 AT 02:10 HOURS THE CRYSTAL FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE BACK LOT OF ELK COUNTY FORD. THE DEPARTMENT FOUND A NEW, 1999 FORD ESCORT SE (VIN #[XXX]) BURNING IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND WHEEL WELL AREA. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SHORT IN THE WIRING IN THE VICINITY OF A "BLOCK" OF RELAYS AND FUSES IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS CAUSED THE WIRING TO BURN AND IGNITED NEARBY PLASTIC ITEMS AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST MANUFACTURED (JUNE 1999) AND HAD ONLY BEEN SITTING ON THE LOT FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OPERATED RECENTLY (2:00 AM IN A SMALL COMMUNITY CAR DEALERSHIP). ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE DID NOT BELONG TO ANY CONSUMER, THIS REPORT IS BEING FILED IN ORDER TO DOCUMENT A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. [XXX] , FIRE CHIEF, CRYSTAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR