SPONTANEOUS VEHICLE COMBUSTION: Y 1996 FORD ESCORT WAS STUCK 3 HRS. IN TRAFFIC JAM ON MAJOR NASSAU COUNTY, NY ROUTE IN MIDDLE OF SNOW STORM. FIRE STARTED FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, SPREADING TO DASHBOARD. HAD FIRE DEPT. NOT QUICKLY ARRIVED ON SCENE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE, A CHAIN REACTION OF EXPLODING VEHICLES MIGHT HAVE ENSUED INVOLVING HUNDREDS OF DRIVERS. FIRE DEPT. DESCRIBED FIRE AS ELECTRICAL IN ORIGIN.*AK