THE ONLY WARNING OF THIS IMPENDING FAILURE WAS THE BATTERY INDICATOR CAME ON. I PULLED OVER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALL OF A SUDDEN MOVED FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. THE ALTERNATOR FLAMED UP FOUR TIMES AND WE WERE ABLE TO EXTINQUISH WITH THE HELP OF PASSERBYS. NO OTHER WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS SHOWN! I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER INFORMED ME THAT THIS FIRE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED.