There were no reported maintenance problems with the Ford F150 before the fire occurred. On the day of the fire, the vehicle was being driven by an ADOT employee who was east bound on Interstate 8 near mile post 39 when she began to smell smoke. The employee pulled over to the side of the road and observed smoke emanating from the side of the hood. The employee report that she observed little plastic balls of fire dropping down to the ground. The vehicle continued to burn unabated in this rural area for many hours before most combustibles were consumed and the fire self-extinguished itself. The remains of the vehicle and fire damaged contents were then scooped up by ADOT maintenance personnel and taken to the Yuma maintenance yard where it was later inspected.